ASTON, Pa. – The Neumann University women's volleyball team defeated Immaculata University 3-0 on Tuesday evening in an Atlantic East Conference first round match. Set scores were 26-24, 25-20 and 25-14.
 
Ariana Pena led the Knights with 15 kills. Reagan Hickey tallied 10 kills. Dani Smith handed out 23 assists and Catie Esslinger added 17. Tori Burgess led four Knights in double-digit digs with 13. Bre Hickey tallied 12 while Reagan Walker and Smith each added 10. Smith also had eight service aces.
 
The Mighty Macs jumped out to an early lead in the first set, 11-3. Pulling within three, 14-11, the Knights scored five straight points to take a 16-14 lead. The teams battled back and forth and Immaculata took a late 23-22 lead. A kill by Maria Brown knotted the score at 23. The Mighty Macs got set point before three straight kills by the Knights gave them a 26-24 set one win.
 
The Knights took a 6-0 lead to start set two. With the score Neumann 10, Immaculata 6, the Mighty Macs scored six straight points for a 12-10 edge. After trading points, the Knights scored the next six for a 16-13 advantage. The teams went back and forth down the stretch, but one of Smith's aces sealed the 25-20 set two win.
 
Immaculata took a 5-1 lead in the third set when three straight kills by B. Hickey started six consecutive points for Neumann. Tied at 10, Smith stepped to the service line and notched four of her service aces as she led the Knights to a 17-10 lead. The Knights tallied five straight kills to wrap up the match, with one by Jules Dill to win the set 25-14 and the match 3-0.
 
Neumann (13-17) will head to Marymount on Thursday for semifinal action. Time is the match is TBD.