LANCASTER, PA (October 25, 2021) -- Junior outside hitter Rosina Esposito posted a double-double of 13 kills and 12 digs as the Susquehanna University women's volleyball team dispatched of host Franklin & Marshall College Monday in four sets with scores of 25-15, 25-17, 17-25 and 25-15. 

The River Hawks (21-5) have now won 10 in a row, and have picked up victories in 16 of their last 17 matches. Susquehanna continues to have success due to their strong defensive play at both levels, as they outblocked the Diplomats (13-9) 13-3 on the night while adding 79 digs. All of that added up to SU holding Franklin & Marshall to just .029 hitting for the contest. Over the 10-match win streak, SU has held all but one team under .200 hitting. 

In the opening stanza, SU slowly grew its lead thanks to a trio of 3-0 runs, the last coming at 18-11 to force a Diplomat timeout. After the stoppage, SU scored four of the next five points including a service ace from Lizzie Herestofa to make it 22-12. The River Hawks would clinch the 1-0 match lead five points later on an attack error by Jada West. Susquehanna forced 13 hitting miscues in the first set. 

The second set opened up midway through the period, as the visitors used a 7-0 run on the strength of two blocks and two kills from Esposito. Senior Paige Sfiroudis also added two blocks during the run, while Amanda Gore posted a service ace as well. F&M trimmed the SU lead to 17-14 and got as close as three points twice, but the River Hawks scored six of the final seven points including a set-clinching ace by senior Megan Nelson. 

The third set was close until a 7-0 run by Franklin & Marshall propelled the hosts to a 25-17 lead in the third, but SU battled right back in the fourth to take the match as it led by as many as 12 points in clinching the victory. 

Esposito added five blocks to her double-double in kills and digs, while senior Riley O'Dowd hit .200 for the match as she finished with 10 kills, three assisted blocks and five digs. Senior Brooke LaCesa had a strong and efficient evening with nine kills on .259 hitting, and Sfiroudis posted seven total rejections.

Sophomore Madison Rockey also added a double-double in the win, her fifth of the season with 30 assists and 10 digs. Herestofa posted 25 digs on the night, and now has 1963 for her career. Nelson also tallied 14 digs and a team-leading three service aces as well. The River Hawks hit .149 (38-16-148) for the match. 

Nicole Carey finished with a match-best 15 kills, while Allison Franke also tallied 11 terminations. Annmarie Early also booked 32 assists, while Carlita Bozzo posted a match-high 26 digs.

Up Next

• Susquehanna will host Catholic University of America Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. in O.W. Houts Gymnasium for Senior Night, honoring its six seniors prior to the match in the final home match of the 2021 regular season.