Parnell chalks up 18 kills over two matches

Box Score vs. Assumption
Box Score vs. Stonehill

WORCESTER, Mass. (September 5, 2009) – Senior Caitlynn Parnell (Medina, Texas) led the offense with nine kills and tied for the team lead with five digs on Saturday afternoon to lead the Franklin Pierce University volleyball team to a 3-0 win over Assumption in non-conference play at the Assumption College Labor Day Mixer at the Plourde Recreation Center. Later on Saturday afternoon, the Ravens dropped a 3-1 decision to Stonehill.

Franklin Pierce swept away Assumption in just 70 minutes by scores of 25-19, 25-13 and 25-23. Against Stonehill, the Ravens won the first set, 25-23, before the Skyhawks swept the next three: 25-14, 25-16 and 25-18. With the split, Franklin Pierce stands at 1-3 (0-0 Northeast-10). Stonehill defeated Assumption later in the day to improve to 2-0 (0-0 Northeast-10), while Assumption fell to 0-3 (0-0 Northeast-10) with a pair of losses.

The win against Assumption marked the first win at Franklin Pierce (222nd career) for Head Coach Stephanie Dragan.

Against Assumption, Parnell led the way with her nine-kill, five-dig performance, while sophomore Dana Rowinski (Dix Hills, N.Y.) matched her career high with eight kills and also tallied five digs of her own. Junior setter Pamela Walker (Chino Hills, Calif.) set up the offense with a match-high 19 assists. Defensively, Parnell led the way with four blocks (two solo), while senior Katie Ristow (Miami, Fla.) chipped in three block assists.

Late in the third set of the match, Franklin Pierce ran off five consecutive points on the serve of Rowinski to turn a 21-17 deficit into a 22-21 lead before going on to close out the match, 25-23.

For Assumption, senior Courtney Stratton led the way with six kills while freshman Steph Whooten tallied six digs. Senior setter Kelly Blumenauer dished out eight assists for the Greyhounds.

Against Stonehill, senior Megan Feldmeth (South Pasadena, Calif.) hit double figures for the first time this season with 10 kills to lead the offense, while Parnell posted nine kills for the second consecutive match. Junior libero Chelsie Kohout (Harrison Township, Mich.) led four Ravens in double digits defensively with 16 digs, while Ristow, Rowinski and senior Erika Takegawa (Kitakyushu, Japan) recorded 14, 12 and 11 digs, respectively. Kohout served up a match-best four aces, while Walker dished out a season-best 30 assists.

For Stonehill, sophomore Laura Huselton and junior Laura Noonan led the way with 14 kills apiece and were joined by sophomore Michelle Thornhill (12 kills) and junior Erin Johnson (10 kills) as four Skyhawks tallied double digits. Defensively, junior Justine Thompson led five Stonehill players in double digits with a match-best 29 digs. Junior setter Andrew Wirth put up a 46-assist, 11-dig double-double for the Skyhawks.

In the third set, the Skyhawks utilized a seven-point run on the serve of freshman Erin Kelly to lengthen a 14-13 lead to 21-13 and effectively put the set away before finishing off the match in the fourth set.

The Ravens return to the court on Tuesday, Sept. 8, when they hold their home opener against American International in a non-conference contest. Match time is set for 7 p.m. at the Fieldhouse in Rindge, N.H.