Streaking Volleyball Takes Two on Opening Day of Duck Classic
HOBOKEN, N.J. - Aiming for its third consecutive tournament championship to open the 2010 season, the red-hot Swarthmore College volleyball team (10-1) got off to another outstanding start on the first day of the Stevens Tech Duck Classic, as the Garnet bested SUNY Oneonta 3-1 (20-25, 25-14, 25-16, 25-17) and Elmira 3-1 (17-25, 25-17, 25-19, 25-21) on Friday evening.
The victories extend the Garnet's winning streak to eight matches, as the squad continues the program's best start in 35 seasons.
Montemurro finished with
Game 1
SUNY Oneonta 3-1 (20-25, 25-14, 25-16, 25-17)
Swat found itself down 1-0 after the a spirited first-game effort from the Red Dragons (2-9), but the Garnet rebounded to sweep the next three games en route to the 3-1 win. Reigning Centennial Conference Player of the Week Kat Montemurro led the Garnet attack with 13 kills, seven digs, four aces, two blocks and no hitting errors for the entire match.
Junior Genny Pezzola also reached double-digit kills and digs, finishing with 11 and 13 digs respectively.
Sophomore Allie Coleman dished out 33 assists while also tallying three kills and six digs.
Game 2
Elmira 3-1 (17-25, 25-17, 25-19, 25-21)
For the second consecutive match, the Garnet dropped the opening game but rebounded for the comfortable win. Pezzola came up big once again for the Garnet, recording 16 kills and 14 digs.
Montemurro had another balanced effort against the Soaring Eagles (5-3), finishing with 10 kills, four aces, three digs, two blocks. Freshman Danielle Sullivan rounded out the trio of Garnet with double-digit kills, finishing with 10 as well as eight digs. Coleman added 36 assists and four digs.
With the two victories, head coach Harleigh Chwastyk now sits at 97 for her career.
Swarthmore is back in action Saturday battling FDU-Florham (noon) and host Stevens (2:00).