THE BASICS

 - Score: Southern New Hampshire 3, Assumption 2

- Records: Assumption (1-6), Southern New Hampshire (2-9)

- Location: Worcester, Mass. (Laska Gymnasium)

The Lead: Assumption captured the opening two sets on Wednesday evening, 25-21 and 25-18, but Southern New Hampshire stormed back to take the final three 25-23, 25-23 and 15-8 to earn the come-from-behind victory in the conference opener for both squads.

HOW IT HAPPENED

- Assumption jumped out to an impressive lead, hitting .229 and recording 16 kills to take the first 25-21 over the Penmen. The Hounds were even more impressive in the second set, taking down SNHU 25-18 to jump ahead 2-0.

- The third set was back-and-forth, and Assumption led 18-16 on a kill by Tess Haller (Cape Elizabeth, Maine / Cape Elizabeth). The Penmen responded, reeling off six consecutive points to jump in front 22-18. They increased that lead to 24-19 before a furious rally brought the Hounds back within one, 24-23. It was too little too late a kill by Amanda Costales closed it out.

- In the fourth, SNHU took an early 11-5 lead but Assumption eventually tied it up at 21, 22 and then 23. However, a kill and an ace on consecutive plays gave the visitors the 25-23 victory.

- The Hounds never led in the fifth set, eventually dropping it 15-8.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

- Kellie Smith (Richland, Mich. / Gull Lake) and Zara Velez (Pine Bush, N.Y. / Pine Bush) came through with double-doubles for Assumption as Smith registered 16 kills and 14 digs while Valez added 12 kills and 16 digs.

- Olivia Burke (Salem, N.H. / Salem) contributed 11 kills and a team-high seven blocks while Maria Chrisom (Dover, N.H. / Saint Thomas Aquinas) led the defense with 30 digs.

- Kiki Romanik (San Rafael, Calif. / Sir Francis Drake) nearly had a triple-double for the Hounds with 45 assists, 17 digs and six kills.

- Jaclyn Maguire led the Penmen with 16 kills and 16 digs while Joanne Coffey contributed 47 assists, 21 digs, five kills and three aces.

- Both teams registered 61 kills in the match, but SNHU hit .192 to Assumption's .168, while also recording four more digs (101-97). The Hounds did have ten total blocks in the contest.

UP NEXT

- Assumption returns to action on Saturday when the team hosts New Haven at 12 pm.

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