RINDGE, N.H. (11/2/24) - The Franklin Pierce women's volleyball team hosted the Greyhounds of Assumption University, Saturday night. The late dominance in the third set would not be enough as the Ravens fell, 3-0. 

Score: 25-16,25-17,27-25  

Records: FPU: 2-15 (0-7 NE10), Assumption: 7-13 (2-4 NE10)  

Location: The Fieldhouse, Rindge, N.H.  

Date: Saturday, November 2, 2024 

HOW IT HAPPENED:  

• The Greyhounds gained an early lead in the first set with kills from Kaitlyn Montgomery, pushing the lead to 5-1. FPU made an effort to fight back, capitalizing on a few Assumption service errors and narrowing the gap to 12-8. However, the Greyhound's offense—powered by Montgomery and Distasio—responded decisively, extending their lead to 16-8. In the latter stages, FPU's Annaka Lindstrom (Dudley, Mass.) and Kennedie Manning (New Braunfels, Texas) contributed some crucial kills to close the score to 14-12, but the Greyhounds took control once more, reaching set point at 24-16 after an ace from Distasio. Montgomery's final kill secured the set for Assumption at 25-16. 

• The Ravens started strong in the second set, quickly recovering from an early Greyhound point with a kill by Lilyanna Petrocelli (Merrimack, N.H.) to lead 3-1. An ace by Avery LeBlanc (Exeter, R.I.) gave Pierce a slight 3-2 edge, but Assumption soon found its rhythm, with Distasio delivering two aces that pushed the Greyhounds ahead 6-4. A sequence of Franklin Pierce errors allowed Assumption to further extend the lead, and a kill from Goodhue contributed to an ASU surge, putting them up 12-5. Although Franklin Pierce cut the lead to 17-13, Assumption's consistent offense ultimately proved too much. Montgomery and Mbachi's kills sealed the set at 25-17, giving the Greyhounds a 2-0 set advantage. 

• Determined to stay in the match, Pierce opened the third set with an early 3-1 lead, driven by Avery Theriault (West Hartford, Conn.) and Kori Garnhart (Colorado Springs, Colo.), who landed a crucial ace. The Greyhounds, however, stayed close with Mbachi and Kane delivering strong kills, tying the set at 8-8 after a service ace from Calderin. A kill from Montgomery gave the Greyhounds a narrow lead at 10-9, and the two teams battled point-for-point until the Ravens managed to pull ahead at 13-11, thanks to a service ace by Brooke Blackburn (Weare, N.H.). Assumption quickly answered with an ace from Illig and a kill by Mbachi, tying the score at 13-13 before taking a 16-14 lead off Ravens errors. Despite FPU's efforts to keep it close, Assumption's well-executed plays down the stretch helped them close out the set and the match at 25-27, clinching a straight-sets victory. 

INSIDE THE LINES:  

• Petrocelli led the team with 8 kills.  

• Lindstrom recorded 19 assists.  

• 6 different Ravens earned 1 service ace on the night.  

UP NEXT FOR THE RAVENS: The Ravens continue their stretch of home games as they host Saint Anselm next Friday, November 8. The match is set for 6 PM.