WORCESTER, Mass -- (Tuesday, September 23, 2025)-- Salve Regina University women's volleyall trailed 1-0 but were unstoppable to win the following three sets and claim a 3-1 victory over Clark Unviersity to open their 2025 NEWMAC season.

Clark established a lead throughout the middle of set one, and despite a scoring run by the visiting Seahawks to advance them from 24-15 to 24-22, the Cougars maintained their advantage to win set one 25-22. Salve Regina established a 5-0 lead to change the course of the match at the beginning of set two, thanks to a series of Cougar errors along with Lauren Hoyle's kill and a service ace from Lucy Swanson. Although it was tied up at 19 the Seahakws inched forward and Kalena Stavish's kill sealed the deal on set two. 

Sets three and four remained close until the very end. Hoyle and Francesca Spadorcia's kills ended set three with the Seahawks leading the match 3-2. With a 24-22 lead in set four the Seahawks took a timeout and it only took one try for Swanson to add to her kill tally for the day and grant the Seahawks a 3-1 NEWMAC success.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Salve Regina 3, Clark 1
Records: Salve Regina (8-4,1-0 NEWMAC), Clark (1-6,0-1 NEWMAC)
History: The teams first met in 2013 and since then the Seahawks are 2-5 against the Cougars. Last year with Clark traveled to Newport it was a 3-0 verdict (20-15, 16-25, 23-25) in favor of the visitor. On October 11, 2014, when the Seahawks picked up their first ever win against the Cougars Salve Regina was victorious 3-0 on the road.

NOTEWORTHY:

• Salve Regina totaled 51 kills across four sets, surpassing their NEWMAC counterpart by 11. Lucy Swanson was just one kill away from her season high of 18, which occurred in Salve Regina's five-set win over Clarkson University on September 13. Swanson's 17 kills, just seven errors and 37 total attempts gave her an impressive hitting percentage of .270.
• Following behind Swanson was Lauren Hoyle, with 13 kills, and Anouk Jansen, who posted ten.
• Cecelia Bronson had the team-high of four blocks.
• Kate Andy led in the assist category with 20 total.