RINDGE, N.H. (November 1, 2019) – The Franklin Pierce University volleyball team led by the duo of freshman right side Mariah Robles (West Covina, Calif.) and senior middle hitter Abigail Garnhart (Colorado Springs, Colo.) kicked off the month of November with a bang making quick work of Northeast-10 Conference opponent the College of Saint Rose 3-0 (25-17, 25-20, 25-17) Friday night in The Fieldhouse. With the win, the crimson and grey improve to 9-10 overall and 3-5 NE10 while the Golden Knights slide to 10-14, 3-6 NE10.

Robles recorded her third straight game of double-digit kills tallying a match-best 15 while hitting .281 with three digs and two total blocks. Her teammate, Garnhart chipped in 10 or more kills for the fourth straight game as well manufacturing 11 kills, a .333 hitting percentage to go along with four digs, one block, one assist, and one ace. It also marked the third consecutive game that Garnhart produced a hitting percentage over .300.

Freshman outside hitter Britney Loyd (Coppell, Texas) had a career-match as she had nine kills and hit a season-best .350. Classmate Ingrid Lindstrom (Dudley, Mass.) broke through for eight kills, a .333 hitting percentage and a match-high three total blocks. Setter Mary Pease (East Haddam, Conn.)  handed out a game-high 39 assists and reigning NE10 Libero of the Week Ellie Ivanova (Sofia, Bulgaria) produced her fifth game in a row of 20+ digs with a game-high 26.

For Saint Rose, Stevie Schweitzer contributed a team-best 15 kills to go along with five digs. She was the only Golden Knights player in double figures. The guests were outhit by a .231 to .102 margin, were out dug by the Ravens (58-48) and had the far inferior serve/receive unit with six reception errors compared to FPU's two.

The Ravens started the game with a 3-1 spurt jump-started by a Garnhart and Robles block off a Schweitzer attack attempt. The Golden Knights tied the game up off a Kyla Archie kill and a Schweitzer ace. Pierce then went on a 10-3 run to lead 13-6 following an Ivanova ace that she served short into the front zone near the net. An attack error pulled Saint Rose within five, however, Pierce upped the margin to 20-12 when Lindstrom powered a ball through the middle of the Golden Night defense. Their lead grew to a set-high nine 24-15 before Pease skipped set a ball to complete the first set victory.

Pierce put seven consecutive points on the board to lead 7-0 early off a bad set by Megan Mayer. A Garnhart ace improved the Raven score to 9-1. Their advantage expanded to nine 13-4 off the serve of Ivanova who planted another ace. The guests crawled back slowly into the set twice pulling within five, 15-10 due to an Archie block. FPU eventually pushed ahead 18-11 until six straight by Saint Rose made it a one-point, 18-17 set off back-to-back Schweitzer kills. Holding a one-point lead, two Garnhart kills, an attack miscue, and a Pease ace put the Ravens on the brink of a 2-0 match lead. Robles eventually ended the set burying an attack at the pin off a long rally to give the crimson and grey a commanding 2-0 set edge.

FPU took it to Saint Rose in the third set as Lindstrom tucked in a kill in the back left corner to put her team in the driver's seat 11-4. A dual block by Cassidy Smith and Valeria Jorge put the Golden Knights within four, 17-13. Still holding a four-point advantage, the Ravens dropped four straight points, one off a Pease tip, two off errors and one via another Ivanova ace, this time to the back right corner put the Ravens on the brink of a sweep. Garnhart finished the set with a mash from the middle.

The Ravens have a quick turnaround as they return to action tomorrow, November 2nd for a 1:00 p.m. matinee contest with conference opponent Le Moyne College.

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://www.shopfpuravens.com) You can also follow the volleyball program on Twitter (https://twitter.com/FPURavensVB) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/fpuravensvb/).