RINDGE, N.H. (September 28, 2019) – Franklin Pierce University volleyball junior libero Ellie Ivanova (Sofia, Bulgaria) was a force on the defensive end racking up a personal-best and game-high 36 digs as the Ravens lost a five-set thriller 3-2 (18-25, 25-17, 19-25, 25-17, 13-15) to Northeast-10 Conference opponent Saint Anselm College Saturday afternoon at The Fieldhouse. With the win, the Hawks better their record to 9-6, 1-0 NE10 while the Ravens drop to 7-5, 1-1 NE10.

Ivanova, a junior transfer from UNLV had the first 30 or more dig game of her collegiate career. She easily bested her previous high watermark of 27, set earlier this year in a 3-2 win at Mercy College on September 7th. Her 36 digs were also the fifth highest in a single game by a Raven in program history.

On the offensive end, freshman Ingrid Lindstrom (Dudley, Mass.) recorded 13 kills, five blocks and a .423 hitting percentage leading the Ravens in each category. Teammates Tessa Brandt (Foster, R.I.) and Abigail Garnhart (Colorado Springs, Colo.) chipped in 11 kills apiece. Junior setter Mary Pease (East Haddam, Conn.) dished out 43 assists while adding six kills, five digs, and one block.

The Hawks were led by Catie McCarthy who tallied a match-best 16 kills to go along with six digs. Madison Sollows and Jordan Schamp manufactured nine kills apiece.

In the first set, the Ravens led 5-4 via a SAC attack error. Six straight points moved the guests ahead 10-5. A Pease to Abigail Garnhart connection cut the Ravens deficit to 11-8. Later in the set, a Catie McCarthy ace upped their margin to 22-14. Four in a row by Pierce brought them within five, but a kill and a block gave the Hawks the 1-0 match lead.

FPU scored the opening four points to hold an early 4-0 advantage in the second set. Their margin expanded to seven, 10-3 when Lindstrom rocked a ball that no one could touch. Possessions passed until a dual block by Lindstrom and freshman right side hitter Mariah Robles (West Covina, Calif.) moved Pierce ahead 19-9. Saint Anselm cut into the lead, but Brandt tied up the battle killing off the 25th point. As a team, the Ravens hit a match-high .393 in the second set.

Saint Anselm came out of the gates firing in the all-important third set producing eight points in a row to lead 8-0. Sophomore outside hitter Cierra Dolan (Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) brought her team within six mashing a kill right by the pin. Lois Dogbe killed off an attempt to push the lead to 23-11. The Ravens refused to fold notching five consecutive points. SAC temporarily halted the Raven momentum with a timeout, but FPU tacked on three more to bring it to a 24-19 set. Sollows wrapped up the third set to put her team on the brink of victory.

Back-to-back Hawks attack errors in the fourth set gave the crimson and gray a five-point, 10-5 lead. Holly Manchester dropped the deficit to 11-8, however, the Ravens kept on adding markers to their margin including a Brandt ace to move ahead 16-8. Pease fake set the ball and touched it over the net for a kill to double up the Hawks 20-10. FPU's 10 point lead held true as they sent the game to a fifth and deciding set.

A Brandt kill coupled with a Pease ace put FPU in front 2-0 early. Trailing 5-4, Lindstrom and Robles skied high for a block to deadlock the set at 5-5. With the game tied 8-8, the Hawks poured on four in a row to take a commanding 12-8 edge. An Ivanova kill with two attack errors put the Ravens down one, 12-11. Garnhart put her team within one, 14-13 roping a mash from the middle. McCarthy clinched the match for the guests on the next serve.

The Ravens have a week to prepare for their next opponent, the University of Bridgeport as they welcome the Purple Knights to The Fieldhouse for a 5:00 p.m. first serve on Saturday, October 5th.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://fpuravens.com). 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 apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://fpuravens.com/store). You can also follow the volleyball program on Twitter (https://twitter.com/FPURavensVB) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/fpuravensvb/).