Springfield College Women’s Volleyball Sweeps
Four SC Invitational Matches

Senior MaryKathryn O’Neil Named Tournament MVP;
Nicole Curtin Named To All-Tournament Team

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., September 2, 2006 – Springfield College senior middle blocker MaryKathryn O’Neil (Liverpool, N.Y.) was named tournament MVP after leading the Pride to four-straight victories and the team title at the SC Women’s Volleyball Invitational this afternoon.  Senior outside hitter Nicole Curtin (Beacon, N.Y.) also garnered All-Tournament Team honors for her stellar play throughout the weekend.

After opening up its 2006 campaign with two, 3-0 wins over Suffolk University and Rhode Island College (RIC) on Friday evening (Sept. 1), the Pride registered yet another solid performance in its Saturday morning (Sept. 2) match against the University of New England. SC took care of the Nor’easters in three straight games with scores of 30-14, 30-15, and 30-17.

Against UNE, which had won its first SC Invitational match on Friday night over Suffolk University (3-0), tri-captain O’Neil led with a team-best 12 kills. Curtin was right behind O’Neil with 11 kills in the three games, and tri-captain Leah Hettrick (Meriden, Conn.) added a team-high 15 digs. Senior Kathryn Becker (Albuquerque, N.M.) chipped in with seven kills for the 3-0 Pride. In a match played at the same 10:00 a.m. time, Roger Williams University defeated Suffolk University, 3-0 (30-20, 30-25, 30-24).

In the 12:00 p.m. matches, on court #1, RIC rallied to defeat Suffolk, 3-1. After the Anchorwomen dropped the first game, 30-26, RIC ran off three games in a row with scores of 30-21, 30-25, and 30-20 in notching its first victory of the 2006 season. On court #2, Roger Williams improved to 3-0 on the season before its meeting with the Pride by beating UNE, 3-1 (31-29, 25-30, 30-17, 30-27).

In the afternoon session at 3:00 p.m., SC handed the Hawks their first loss of the season, while improving its overall record to 4-0 on the weekend. The Pride defeated Roger Williams in three games by scores of 30-23, 30-26, and 30-12. The Pride has not lost an SC Invitational match since September 1^st, 2001 (Otterbein, 3-2), as SC has now been victorious in its past 20 SC Invitational matches.

O’Neil capped off her MVP weekend with a team-best 15 kills in the win over Roger Williams. This is the second consecutive year that O’Neil has earned the SC Invitational MVP award. In the four matches this weekend, O’Neil tallied a total of 48 kills in 12 games, good for an even 4.0 kills per game average to go along with a .447 hitting percentage for the weekend.

Curtin added 10 kills in the win over Roger Williams, earning her first career All-Tournament Team honors. Hettrick, who was solid all weekend long, finished off the weekend with 16 digs against the Hawks. The Pride will next compete in the Johnson & Wales Invitational on Friday and Saturday, September 8-9.

Friday, September 1
SC def. Suffolk University, 3-0 (30-17, 30-15, 30-12)

Roger Williams University def. Rhode Island College, 3-1 (30-28, 24-30, 30-25, 30-19)

SC def. Rhode Island College, 3-0 (30-16, 30-20, 30-15)

University of New England def. Suffolk University, 3-0 (30-15, 30-14, 30-14)

Saturday, September 2
Springfield def. University of New England, 3-0 (30-14, 30-15, 30-17)

Roger Williams University def. Suffolk University, 3-0 (30-20, 30-25, 30-24)

Rhode Island College def. Suffolk University, 3-1 (26-30, 30-21, 30-25, 30-20)

Roger Williams University def. University of New England, 3-1 (31-29, 25-30, 30-17, 30-27)

Springfield def. Roger Williams University, 3-0 (30-23, 30-26, 30-12)

Rhode Island College def. University of New England, 3-2 (30-21, 27-30, 30-27, 22-30, 15-10)

All-Tournament Team

Nicole Curtin – Springfield                 Amy Maurer – Roger Williams

Erin Miga – Rhode Island College                    Kristen Conrad - Suffolk

Kirsten Bosworth – Roger Williams                 Rachel Seawards – University of New England

MVP – MaryKathryn O’Neil – Springfield