ASTON, Pa. – The Neumann University women's volleyball team went 2-0 in the first day of the Knights Invitational. Neumann opened with a 3-0 Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) win over Marywood University. The Knights then notched an exciting 3-1 win over St. Mary's in the nightcap.
Neumann swept Marywood in straight sets 25-16, 25-17 and 25-20 in the first match. Kelsey D'Imperio (11 kills) and Natalie George (10 kills) each had an impressive .389 hitting average. Katelin Kuklentz led the offensive attack with 15 kills. Cecily Scavicchio handed out 30 assists.
Victoria Limmina rolled out 16 digs to lead the defense. D'Imperio had six blocks (two solo and four assists) to aid in the defense.
In the second game, Neumann had a thrilling 3-1 win over St. Mary's, 25-10, 21-25, 25-15, 25-19. In the first set, the Knights looked like world beaters. D'Imperio had two consecutive blocks to give the Knights a five and six to three leads. I believe D'Imperio had another block for the second point, as well. St. Mary's was “D'Fenseless,” as D'Imperio imposed her will in the early going of the match.
George joined the action with a block to extend the lead to 13-7. As a time-out was called, the Knights enjoyed a 17-8 lead. During the break, “Waterboy” Evan Zielinski helped quench the Knights thirst buds and inspire the girls with his workout apparel. It was the Knights turn to show their guns and “Kookie” Kuklentz finished the game off by smashing a shot down the heart of the opponent winning 25-16.
In the second game, the Knights started off very slow going down 0-3 early on in the game. The Knights tied the score at 8-8, but it was all downhill from there. It was like watching “Honey I shrunk the kids” because it seemed as though the girls didn't come up big. Or maybe it was more like a “Sloppy Joe sandwich”?
The third game showed no ill effects that the second game posed. George came alive getting a kill early to get the Knights first point, Cantwell provided a service ace and take the lead 3-2. The next sequence involved a nice rally with a George block and then a George tomahawk for the point. “Kookies” and crème smashed a cross court zinger to give the Knights a 6-2 lead. Excitement was in the air, as “Kookie” and George traded off kills. D'Imperio was literally drooling for a kill and her wishes came true to give the Knights a 23-14 lead. “Kookie” finished off the game with a worm burner that barely made it across the net. Not very trendy, but effective.
The decisive fourth match was a game of streaks, one in which the Knights were in complete control. But the Seahawks didn't appear to go Seasick and stage a rally of their own tying the game at 10-10. To the Knights delight, there were no real unforced errors, as the Knights capitalized on the Seahawk's errors.
All in all, D'Imperio gave the “Swag unit” some swag. Scavicchio gave the squad rhythm and presence. Limmina posed as a mop because she was all over the floor. Danielle Kwapisz was “Steady Eddie” and reliable. Cantwell had to get a moving company to the game, because the ball couldn't find a home and always looking to be relocated.
George finished with 14 kills and a .407 hitting average. Kuklentz had a .429 hitting average with 11 kills and D'Imperio finished of the trifecta with eight kills and a .412 average. Kuklentz also added 18 digs.
Scavicchio handed out 27 assists while Ashley Clark notched 16. Limmina and Elaina Shooster each had 15 digs. The team finished with 10 team blocks, led by George with four assists and D'Imperio and Kuklentz with three.
Neumann (5-5) will face Rutgers-Camden tomorrow morning at 10:00 AM followed by Pitt-Bradford at 2:00 PM.
