

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., September 1, 2006 – The Springfield College women’s volleyball team opened its 2006 season with a pair of victories on the first day of competition in its own SC Invitational.
A total of 10 matches have been and will be played as five teams are scheduled to complete in a round-robin schedule over a two-day period (Sept. 1-2). The five teams include host SC, the University of New England (UNE), Rhode Island College (RIC), Roger Williams University, and Suffolk University.
In first-round competition on Friday evening (5:00 p.m. starts), the Pride defeated Suffolk, 3-0. Game scores were 30-17, 30-15, 30-12. At the same time, Roger Williams defeated RIC, 3-1. Game scores were 30-28, 24-30, 30-25, 30-19.
SC was led by senior middle blocker MaryKathryn O’Neil (Liverpool, N.Y.) and senior outside hitter Nicole Curtin (Beacon, N.Y.) with 16 and 13 kills, respectively. Senior libero Leah Hettrick (Meriden, Conn.), an AVCA Division III Honorable Mention All-American one season ago, recorded 10 digs for the Pride.
In second-round competition on Friday (approx. 7:45 p.m. starts), SC defeated RIC, 30-16, 30-20, 30-15. At the same time, UNE went 1-0 on the evening as it defeated Suffolk, 30-15, 30-14, 30-14.
Tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., the Pride will meet UNE, while RWU meets Suffolk. At 12:00 p.m., RIC takes on Suffolk, while RWU takes on UNE. Then at 3:00 p.m., SC will face RWU, while RIC will face UNE.
Day 1 Scores (Sept. 1):
SC def. Suffolk, 3-0 – 30-17, 30-15, 30-12
RWU def. RIC, 3-1 – 30-28, 24-30, 30-25, 30-19
SC def. RIC, 3-0 – 30-16, 30-20, 30-15
UNE def. Suffolk, 3-0 – 30-15, 30-14, 30-14
Records:
Springfield 2-0
Univ. of New England 1-0
Roger Williams Univ. 1-0
Rhode Island College 0-2
Suffolk University 0-2
Joel Dearing will enter his 21st season as head women's volleyball coach at his alma mater in the fall of 2009. Dearing is regarded nationally as one of the sport’s best coaches and he has the resume to prove it. Dearing ranks in the top-10 in Division III history with a 670-298 (.692) overall mark in 28 seasons as a women’s volleyball coach.
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