ADRIAN, Mich. -- The Siena Heights women's volleyball team started the 2021 season with a 3-0 sweep against Adrian College inside the Merillat Sports & Fitness Center on Wednesday night.
Freshman Olivia Norma (Lapeer, Mich.) had quite the collegiate debut for the Saints as she led the team with nine kills and five total blocks (two solos and three assists) on the evening. The Saints shined defensively holding the Bulldogs to a team hitting percentage of just .009 for the match. The first two sets saw Adrian hit below zero as a team.
The opening set was back and forth as there were several tie scores in the teens including a 19-19 draw. Siena pulled ahead with a 3-0 run that was sparked by a block from Norman and Aline Marinelo (Sr. | Brazil) before the Saints finished the set with a 25-21 decision. Set two was all SHU as they pulled ahead 16-6. The Bulldogs rallied to cut the lead to 19-15 but Siena Heights proved to be too much as they tallied the 2-0 lead. The final set looked much like the first with numerous tie scores throughout, however, the Saints pulled away when it mattered to secure the sweep.
Setter Aubrey Bates (Grand Haven, Mich.) put in a solid night's work with 20 assists, six kills (.286), six digs, and two blocks. Payton Osborne (Fr. | Monroe, Mich.) and Kadie Carsten (So. | Ida, Mich.) each finished with 10 digs. Osborne also led the team with two service aces.
SAINT DEBUTS
Lyndsey Benschoter (Fr. | Tecumseh, Mich.), Rachel Haft (Fr. | Tecumseh, Mich.), Lauren Ray (Fr. | Woodhaven, Mich.), Hannah Schuele (Fr. | Toledo, Ohio), and Norman all made their collegiate debuts for Siena Heights.
RECORD WATCH
Bates increased her career assist mark to 578 and currently sits just 291 assists from 10th in the career records book.
UP NEXT
The Saints are scheduled to kick off their annual SHU Tournament on Friday, September 3 with two matches. The first is against Roosevelt at 3:00 p.m. and the second is against Bluefield at 7:00 p.m.
