Marymount University

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. — Marymount (9-9, 0-1 Atlantic East) lost to Centenary (6-9, 1-0 Atlantic East) 3-1 on Wednesday in the opening match of AEC play.

Saints Top Performers

Ava Humphries
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- team-high 18 digs

Emerson Aber
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- team-high 12 assists
- 9 digs
- 1 service ace

Brigid Donahue
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- team-high 6 kills
- 5 digs
- 1 service ace

Hailey LaBonte
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- 5 kills
- team-high 2 service aces
- 8 digs

Eliana Knaub
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- team-high 4 total blocks, including a season-high 2 solo
- 3 kills
- 6 points

The Saints traded points with Centenary (NJ) early and moved ahead 5-4 on Elizabeth Stackpole's block, but Centenary answered with a stretch that included a Gabriella Miller ace and kills by Helen Bilomasur and Jenny Thistlethwaite to go in front 10-6. After Centenary pushed the margin to 15-9 on Adrienne Xiao's serve, Eliana Knaub's kill, Brigid Donahue's ace and a Centenary attack error brought the Saints back within 15-12 before Centenary rebuilt its lead to 18-12 and later 24-19. The Saints stayed in the set with Donahue's kill, Emerson Aber's ace, Knaub's block and another Donahue kill to close to 24-23, but Poppy Skjonnemand's kill ended the set for Centenary, 25-23.

After Centenary held a 5-4 edge, the Saints tied the set on an attack error and ran off seven straight points, with Alexis Bumah's kill, Hailey LaBonte's ace and LaBonte's kill helping move the Saints in front 11-5. Brigid Donahue added a kill during the next stretch, and after Centenary got within 16-9, the Saints answered with five straight points, including an Angela McKenzie-Eliana Knaub block during Donahue's service turn, to reach 21-9. Centenary later scored five straight after the Saints reached 23-10, but a LaBonte kill from Emerson Aber moved the Saints to 24-15, and a Centenary bad set closed the Saints' 25-15 set win.

The Saints erased an early 4-2 deficit in the third set, moving in front 5-4 on Kate Craver's service ace and later getting a Knaub kill from Emerson Aber to go up 7-5. Centenary (NJ) tied the set at 7-7, and after the Saints drew even at 8-8, the home side scored the next six points behind kills from Jenny Thistlethwaite, Gabriella Miller and Poppy Skjonnemand, plus a Helen Bilomasur ace, to build a 14-8 lead. Angela McKenzie's kill helped the Saints get back on the board, and the Saints later trimmed the margin to 20-15 with consecutive Centenary (NJ) attack errors, the second coming on a block by Knaub and Elizabeth Stackpole. Centenary (NJ) kept the lead from there, reaching set point on a Saints service error before Skjonnemand closed the set with a kill for a 25-18 finish.

Centenary (NJ) scored the first five points of the fourth set, using kills by Poppy Skjonnemand and Gabriella Miller along with two service aces while Adrienne Xiao served before McKenzie put the Saints on the board. Hailey LaBonte and Donahue added kills for the Saints, but Centenary built the margin to 16-6 during a stretch that included a Jenny Thistlethwaite kill, two Saints attack errors and two service aces. Layla Scott produced two late kills and the Saints reached 13-23 on a Centenary bad set, but Centenary moved to set point at 24-13 and closed the set 25-14 on a Saints attack error.

UP NEXT

• Marymount heads to Bridgewater College this weekend to play the hosting eagles and Stevens.