BRIDGEWATER, Va. -- The Marymount University women's volleyball team earned its first win of the season in hard-fought fashion on Friday evening, as the Saints earned a five-set victory over Eastern Mennonite University at the Route 42 Classic on the campus of Bridgewater College.

Marymount (1-1) grew into the match as it wore on, highlighted by an increase in attack percentage in each consecutive set. Eastern Mennonite (0-1) featured a steady defense at the net and a hot attack early, but the Saints weathered the storm and held fast to earn the victory. 

Kaitlyn Doyle paced MU's attack with 15 kills and a .389 attack percentage. Rookie Katie Stromberg chipped in nine kills and continued an efficient start to her career with a team-best .444 attack percentage. The Saints deployed two setters that afforded them different offensive looks at the net throughout the match. Sydney Sands tallied 22 assists and 11 digs, while rookie Natalie Bialecki posted the first double-double of her career with 23 assists and 12 digs. On the defensive side of the ball, Caylee Shelton led the way with 13 digs. 

The teams went back-and-forth throughout the first three sets, which allowed the Royals to steal a two-sets-to-one lead. MU responded ferociously, however, and roared back to take the final two sets and the match. 

The Saints floored a match-best 14 kills in the fourth frame to fuel the push for the fifth set. Neither side found much traction early, but, a 3-0 run kickstarted by a solo block from Stromberg put MU up 20-16. EMU staved off one set-point chance for Marymount, but Doyle ended the set on the very next point with a kill off of a feed from Bialecki.

Marymount's offense erupted in the final set of the evening. The Saints swung at a blistering .636 clip, while Eastern Mennonite hit a paltry -.071. EMU kept it close early, but Marymount secured six of the final seven points to seal the win. 

The Saints continue the Route 42 Classic with a pair of matches on Saturday afternoon. Marymount faces Salem College at 2:00 p.m. before taking on Bridgewater at 4:00 pm.