SOUTH HADLEY, Mass., October 17, 2006 - Springfield College senior outside hitter Nicole Curtin (Beacon, N.Y.) recorded a team-high 10 kills and five service aces as the Pride rolled past Mount Holyoke College, 3-0, this evening in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play.

SC came out of the gates with a convincing, 30-8 victory in game one, and then finished off the sweep of the Lyons with scores of 30-13 and 30-20 in games two and three. The win improves the Pride to 20-6 overall on the season and 5-2 in NEWMAC action, as SC has notched its 15th consecutive 20-win season under the direction of head coach Joel Dearing. Mount Holyoke falls to 7-9 overall and 1-6 in league play.

In the 3-0 victory this evening, Curtin compiled 10 kills on 16 swings with no errors for a season-high .625 hitting percentage. Senior middle blocker MaryKathryn O'Neil (Liverpool, N.Y.) contributed to the win with eight kills on 20 swings with just one error for a solid .350 hitting percentage.

Senior libero Leah Hettrick (Meriden, Conn.) chipped in with a team-high 11 digs, and sophomore setter Caitlin Mulroy (Syracuse, N.Y.) added 31 assists. With the victory, the Pride is currently in a three-way tie for second place in the NEWMAC standings with MIT and Smith. Wellesley and Coast Guard are currently tied for first in the conference at 6-1.

SC will next compete in the Volleyball Hall of Fame Invitational when it hosts two matches on Friday evening, October 20th, in times of 6:00 and 8:00 p.m.

published: 10/18/2006