SELINSGROVE, Pa. – The Ninth Annual Hampton Inn Crusader Classic started out with two wins in two matches for the Susquehanna volleyball team. SU (5-1) defeated Misericordia 3-0 to start the night before dropping Dickinson in straight sets as well.

The Crusaders opened the tournament with an efficient 25-18, 25-12, 25-16 victory over Misericordia as seventeen different players took the court for SU. Erin Byrne (San Diego, Calif. / Scripps Ranch) and Morgan Whiteman (Camp Hill, Pa. / Trinity) each had a team-high eight kills with Byrne also adding 11 digs, three assists and one service ace.

Meanwhile, Maggie O'Hearn (Mountville, Pa. / Hempfield) tallied a match-best 30 assists with seven kills and five digs. Hayley Dunkel (Pottsville, Pa. / Pottsville Area) accounted for one solo block and two block assists to go along with five kills and Sarah Paluck (Nesquehoning, Pa. / Tamaqua Area) chipped in 13 digs to pace the team.

SU won in similar fashion over the Red Devils of Dickinson (0-4), prevailing by a score of 25-20, 25-13, 25-15. Once again, O'Hearn recorded 30 assists to go with seven digs, two solo blocks, and a block assist. Byrne and Whiteman reached double digits in kills with 11 and 12, respectively and there was a near double-double for Byrne, who finished with eight digs.

Also effective against the Red Devils was Dunkel, who recorded six kills, two solo blocks, and three block assists. Overall, the Crusaders achieved a hitting percentage of .353 from 40 kills and 10 errors in 85 attempts.

The team continues play in the Hampton Inn Crusader Classic at 11 a.m. on Saturday against St. Vincent, who were also undefeated on Friday, and concludes the weekend opposite Gettysburg (5-2) at 3 p.m.