CHESTERTOWN, Md. – After taking the Rowan Tournament this past weekend with an untouched 4-0 record, the Marymount (Va.) University women's volleyball team kept the ball rolling on the road at Washington (Md.) College Wednesday night with a straight-set sweep, 3-0 (25-21, 28-26, 26-24). 

Paced by strong sets by junior Mallory Mitchell and freshman Caroline Hanson, the Saints improve to 5-1 on the season, while handing the Shorewomen their first defeat of the season in their home debut. Mitchell pieced together a team-high 10 kills while adding 14 digs. Hanson also went a team high in assists with 22 and registered 13 digs. 

Each set was a battle, seeing two of the three go to extra points. The only game that didn't go to extra points was the first, in which the Saints tallied a 25-21 decision. The score remained tight for the opening parts of the set until a kill by Hanson followed by an attack error by Washington gave Marymount a lead it wouldn't surrender for the remainder of the game. 

A four-point stretch, including two kills by Mitchell and a kill by Hanson, separated the score to 10-6, but the Shorewomen didn't go away, getting back within one with three-straight points of their own. Another four points for MU followed after trading several serves to give the Saints the momentum they needed to grab the first set. Two Mitchell kills put the final touch on the game to give MU the early 1-0 lead in the match. 

The second set opened with a service ace by Hanson followed by a block assist by sisters Morgan McAlpin and Margaret McAlpin to give the Saints the initial lead, but Washington answered with five-straight points to take the advantage. 

Battling back, the Saints finally reclaimed the lead after a service ace by sophomore Ashley Cabrera and a kill by junior Emileigh Rettig to move the score to 8-7 in favor of MU. 

Although the set remained close, seeing six draws in the score through the remainder of the game, the Saints never faltered the lead. Down the stretch in extra points and the scored all knotted up at 26-26, a kill and a service ace by Rettig sealed up the final two points for Marymount to move the score to 2-0 and a strong momentum heading into the third set. 

Although a kill by Margaret opened the third game for the Saints, Marymount saw itself playing catch up in the middle parts of the set. A four-point advantage for the Shorewomen spread their lead to 12-8, but the Saints would answer with five-straight points of their own to take the lead over for the last time. In the stretch, Morgan registered two kills, while Hanson served up two aces. 

With the final set drawing even three more times, kills by Hanson and Margaret put the last touch on the match to take the final set 26-24 and the 3-0 victory. 

The women will look to keep their winning streak alive this weekend at the Guetle Invitational hosted by Catholic University of America. The two-day event opens on Friday, September 11, with the Saints facing off against Marywood University at 2 p.m., followed by a matchup against Otterbein University at 4 p.m.