Springfield, Mass. - September 3, 2022 - The Springfield College women's volleyball team battled to a four-set win over Skidmore on Saturday afternoon to capture the Springfield College Invitational in Blake Arena. Sets scores of the match were 25-10, 24-26, 25-17, 25-11. 

The Pride, which was receiving votes in the preseason AVCA Division III National Poll, is now 3-0 on the season.  Springfield was fueled by the play of three newcomers, as graduate student libero Ally Townsend (Hummelstown, Pa.) was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Invitational.  She was joined by teammates Riley Donahue (South Windsor, Conn.) and Megan Kirtyan (Massapequa Park, N.Y.) on the All-Invitational Team.  Townsend tallied 20 digs and had four of the Pride's 15 aces, while Donahue notched 15 kills and Kirtyan was credited with 35 assists, six kills, and four aces in leading Springfield to a .319 hitting percentage.

Springfield jumped all over Skidmore to start the match, seizing a quick 13-3 advantage following a kill from Jamie Albrecht (Selden, N.Y.).  Skidmore hit -.033 in the opening set and Albrecht put away her fourth kill of the early going for the 25-10 win. 

Donahue buried six kills in the second set and Springfield held a 21-18 advantage late in the frame, only to have Skidmore score six of the next nine points in the set to rally for the win. 

Three first-years carried the load in the third set, as Kirtyan, Emily Keaveney (Massapequa Park, N.Y.), and Maeve Voltz (Bay Shore, N.Y.) all had four kills.  With a 7-6 lead, Springfield manufactured a 12-5 burst that was capped off by a huge block from Voltz and Donahue as the Pride gained breathing room at 19-12.  Kirtyan finished off the set with the Pride's 16th kill of the stanza for the 25-17 triumph. 

Springfield opened up a 14-2 lead to begin the fourth and never looked back, and thanks to four kills from Natalie Billet (Commack, N.Y.), Springfield hit .571 in the finale to conclude the four-set win. 

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Springfield College Invitational All-Tournament Team
Springfield College
Ally Townsend (MVP)