Ravens clipped 3-2 by both Michigan Tech and Notre Dame (Ohio)

Box Score vs. Michigan Tech
Box Score vs. Notre Dame (Ohio)

RENSSELAER, Ind. (September 2, 2011) – Freshman right side Natasha Ray (Colorado Springs, Colo.) hammered out 14 kills in her collegiate debut and followed with 20 more kills in the second match of the day on Friday afternoon, but the Franklin Pierce University volleyball team dropped a pair of 3-2 decisions on the first day of the Puma Invitational, hosted by St. Joseph's (Ind.).

Franklin Pierce opened the season against Michigan Tech, before falling to Notre Dame (Ohio). With the losses, the Ravens open the season 0-2 (0-0 Northeast-10).

In the first match of the day, Franklin Pierce took the first two sets from Michigan Tech, 25-21 and 25-23. From there, the Huskies battled back with 25-19 and 25-13 wins in the third and fourth sets, respectively. Michigan Tech took the 3-2 victory with a 15-10 win in the decisive fifth set.

For Franklin Pierce, Ray led the offense and tied for the match high with 14 kills, while freshman outside hitter Catie Swiderski (Rocky Point, N.Y.) chipped in nine kills of her own. The duo worked primarily off the set of sophomore Stephanie Svorinic (Scottsdale, Ariz.), who dished out 30 assists to lead all players in her Franklin Pierce debut.

On the other side of the net, the Ravens piled up 19 blocks as a team, led by six (four solo) by sophomore middle Ashley Bruce (Hampton Falls, N.H.), who tied for the match high. Both sophomore middle Katie Jackson (Centennial, Colo.) and freshman middle Jocelyn Smith (Groton, Conn.) collected five blocks. Sophomore libero Lauren Miller (Alexandria, Ind.) led all players with 11 digs.

For Michigan Tech, freshman middle Andria Nyenhuis led the way with 14 kills and was joined in double digits by senior outside hitter Jena Karkos, who added 13 kills of her own. Three setters reached double figures in assists for the Huskies, led by junior Madeline Haben with 15. Defensively for Michigan Tech, sophomore outside hitter Jordanna Kero led the team with 10 digs, while sophomore middle Abby DeWitt collected six blocks (three solo).

In the second match of the day, a 3-2 loss to Notre Dame (Ohio), the Ravens dropped the first set, 25-14, before picking up 25-21 and 25-15 wins in the second and third sets, repsectively. However Notre Dame bounced back with a 25-22 win in the fourth set and squeaked out a 16-14 win in the decisive fifth set.

Ray led the offense again in the second match, this time with 20 kills. She was joined in double digits by Swiderski (11 kills) and Jackson (10 kills). The trio worked off the set of Svorinic, who dished out 41 more assists. Defensively, Miller led the way with 17 digs, while Ray added 10 digs to complete her double-double. At the net, Jackson recorded five blocks (three solo).

The Ravens return to the court on Saturday, Sept. 3, when they remain in Rensselaer for the second day of the Puma Invitational. Franklin Pierce will face McKendree at 9 a.m. and Indiana (Pa.) at 1 p.m. The Ravens' first home game is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 24 against New Haven at 1 p.m. at the Fieldhouse in Rindge.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics).