RINDGE, N.H. (September 17, 2016) – After a heartbreaking five set setback last night to NYIT, the Franklin Pierce University volleyball team responded in a huge way by sweeping non-conference opponent Long Island University – Post 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 27-25) Saturday afternoon in the Fieldhouse. The win improves the Ravens to 4-6 on the year the loss drops LIU Post to 2-5.

After starting the season 0-4, the Ravens have won four of six games with their victory over LIU Post accounting for their first home win of the year. The hosts held the advantage over the visitors in hitting percentage .231 to .079 and at the net with 13 total blocks to the Pioneers nine.

Katie Leidhold (Acushnet, Mass.) led the game with 13 kills and 15 digs. Abigail Sonuga (Haverhill, Mass.) hit .333 with 10 kills and a game-high four blocks. Hannah St. Jean (Olympia, Wash.) added seven kills, a .700 hitting percentage and matched Sonuga with four blocks. Hannah Runge (Deltona, Fla.) dished out 29 assists and was active on defense with 12 digs.

Late in the first set, St. Jean and Madison Klusendorf (Santa Maria, Calif.) teamed up for a block to increase the Ravens lead to 22-14 which led to an LIU post timeout. The Pioneers engineered a late surge after the stoppage using two service aces to cut the Ravens lead to 23-18. An attack error coupled with a block by Klusendorf and Sonuga ended the potential comeback.

The beginning of the second set saw LIU Post jump out to a 6-2 lead due to a kill by Danielle Valenza. The Ravens rallied to take a one point 15-14 lead after a ball handing error by the Pioneers. Four straight points by the visitors put them out in front 18-16 as FPU took a timeout which would prove to be an excellent coaching decision because it swung momentum towards the home side. The Crimson and Grey would rally with an 8-2 scoring binge including a stretch of six straight points with Hanna St. Jean serving to win the crucial second set 25-20.

The final set saw back and forth action with numerous ties and extra serves needed to decide the outcome. The Ravens grinded through the set erasing a six point 18-12 deficit to go up 24-22 and put them on verge of victory. The Pioneers used their final timeout in the set and responded like the Ravens did earlier with two straight points to tie the set. Leidhold ended the contest with a kill from Runge as the Ravens earned their first home victory.

The Ravens return to action on Tuesday in their first match of a four game road swing with Northeast-10 conference foe Southern New Hampshire at 7:00 p.m.

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). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce cross country apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).