MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Kutztown University dropped the first four sets it played at Saturday's SNHU/Saint Anselm Tournament, but the Golden Bears put those early struggles in the rearview mirror by winning their last three to defeat Roberts Wesleyan, 3-1, for head coach Allison Keeley's first victory with the program.
 
SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE 3, KUTZTOWN 0
25-12, 25-16, 25-15
 
The host Penmen were ready to roll on their home court from the opening serve and Kutztown could not counter SNHU's hot hitting.
 
Behind six kills from Ana Pimenta, the Penmen attacked at a .412 clip with 16 kills against just two errors on 34 attempts in the opening set. KU trailed just 10-7 when SNHU used a kill by Alice Arletti to start a run of eight unanswered points to take control. Pimenta also led the team with five digs and shared the team lead with two block assists in a 25-12 set one victory.
 
SNHU hit .276 (13 kills-5 errors-29 attempts) and never trailed in the second set on its way to a 25-16 win. Kutztown (0-1) grabbed a brief 2-0 lead in the third and despite its best attacking set of the match (11-6-31, .161), the Penmen (1-0) countered with a .385 (13-3-26) to go along with three aces in completing the sweep, 25-15.
 
For the match, SNHU hit .360 (42-10-89) to the Maroon and Gold's .078 (24-17-90). The Penmen held advantages in aces (8-2), blocks (6-2) and digs (44-31).
 
Senior setter Lexi Morrow (Landisburg, Pa./West Perry) set up 19 of the Bears' 24 kills, moving past Abbey James (1,226) and into sole possession of ninth place on KU's career assists list with 1,229.
 
Sophia Basler (Dover, Del./Smyrna) paced KU with six kills. Lauren Dougherty (Richboro, Pa./Council Rock South) and Emma Filipovits (Hanover, Pa./South Western) each had four. Sadie Doss (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Mechanicsburg) and Morrow shared the team lead with eight digs apiece.
 
Pimenta totaled a match-high 11 kills for SNHU. She was joined in double figures by teammates Juliana Pacini and Dai Thawnghmung, who each had 10. Setter Sara Montefameglio posted 35 assists.
 
 
KUTZTOWN 3, ROBERTS WESLEYAN 1
23-25, 25-21, 25-21, 25-20
 
A late first set lead slipped away from the Golden Bears, but they showed tremendous resolve in rallying for a 3-1 victory over the Redhawks.
 
The two teams traded the lead six times in a back-and-forth first set. Kutztown took a 22-21 lead on a kill from freshman Mel Eglinton (Norristown, Pa./Methacton), but Roberts finished the set by scoring four of the last five points to take it, 25-23.
 
KU was determined not to let that result carry over to the remaining sets. Keeley's team finally flipped the switch offensively, showing a glimpse of what they are capable of when firing on all cylinders.
 
Sadie Doss (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Mechanicsburg) hammered the Redhawks (0-1) with five kills and a .556 hitting percentage in the second, while Grace Ingram (Allentown, Pa./William Allen), Jasmine Mooney (Lehighton, Pa./Marian Catholic) and Eglinton each provided three in a 25-21 win for the Maroon and Gold. With a .308 attack percentage (16 kills-4 errors-39 attempts), it was Kutztown's best set to that point.
 
That distinction would be short-lived, however, as Doss and the Bears were even better in the third. Though it had three less kills as a team, Kutztown was more proficient with 13 kills and four errors on 27 tries for a .333 percentage.
 
Tied at six after a Sydney Yanak ace, Kutztown broke free with a 6-1 run that included two kills and a block from Adrianna Derstine (Barto, Pa./Boyertown). Roberts drew as close as 22-20 but kills from Doss accounted for the Bears' final three points as they matched set two's result with a 25-21 win.
 
The fourth would also be closely contested, but a service error by the Redhawks, who were holding a slim 19-18 lead, started a 7-1 match-ending run for the Bears. Cat Farole (Orefield, Pa./Parkland) provided an ace and Derstine three of her 14 kills to help KU close it out.
 
Doss' 18 kills were a match-high and new career-high. The senior outside hitter secured a double-double with 12 digs. Farole collected 18 digs, five assists and a pair of aces, and Morrow set the table with 32 assists.
 
Kutztown will remain in Manchester, but head over to Saint Anselm for a pair of matches Sunday before heading home. The Golden Bears take on D'Youville at 1 p.m., followed by the hosts at 3:30.
  Read Full Article