Franklin Pierce takes down UMass Lowell, 3-1
Parnell records her third consecutive double-double with 14 kills and 21 digs

RINDGE, N.H. (September 13, 2007) – The Franklin Pierce University volleyball team used a strong start and a decisive finish to put away the University of Massachusetts-Lowell River Hawks by a score of 3-1 (30-20, 26-30, 30-24, 30-16) in a non-conference matchup on Thursday evening at the Franklin Pierce Fieldhouse.

Sophomore Caitlynn Parnell (Medina, Texas/Medina) led the Franklin Pierce attack with her third consecutive double-double, leading all Ravens with 14 kills and 21 digs. Classmate Katie Ristow (Miami, Fla./Miami Killian Senior HS) had 10 kills for the Ravens, while junior co-captain Karissa Hookstadt (Camarillo, Calif./Camarillo) posted her third double-double of the year and second in a row with 41 assists and a season-high 18 digs.

Jillian Hadder (Yucaipa, Calif./Yucaipa) and Nichole Rondeau (Dracut, Mass./Dracut) also had double-doubles for the visiting River Hawks, as Hadder finished with a game-high 18 kills and 13 digs while Rondeau recorded 35 assists and 10 digs.

Thursday’s match was one dominated by streaky play by both teams. In game one, the Ravens jumped out to an 8-1 lead and used the early edge to coast to a win. The River Hawks came back in game two, using an 8-0 run and two five-point stretches to hold off the home team to even the match at one. Franklin Pierce responded in the final two games, however, winning a tough third game and taking early control of the fourth and final game to earn the non-conference win.

Franklin Pierce (5-7, 1-1 NE-10) improves to 5-1 on the season at home, including a 4-1 mark on the team’s just completed five-match homestand.  The Ravens will return to the road on Saturday, traveling to Manchester, N.H., for a Northeast-10 match against host Saint Anselm at 1 p.m. and a non-conference match against Merrimack at 3 p.m. UMass Lowell (3-5, 1-1 NE-10) will take part in the Le Moyne Tournament this weekend beginning on Saturday against the host Dolphins.

Franklin Pierce def. UMass Lowell 30-20, 26-30, 30-24, 30-16

UMass Lowell (3-5, 1-1 NE-10) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Jillian Hadder 18-1-1; Elsa LeGrand 12-3-2; Erin Hudd 5-1-1; Sarah Coscia 4-0-1; Kristina Martell 3-1-1; Kendra Ciccone 2-1-0; Nichole Rondeau 0-2-3; Totals 44-9-4.5. (Assists) - Nichole Rondeau 35. (Dig leaders) - Allie Eide 22; Jillian Hadder 13; Kendra Ciccone 10; Nichole Rondeau 10; Kristina Martell 9

Franklin Pierce (5-7, 1-1 NE-10) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Caitlynn Parnell 14-0-1; Katie Ristow 10-1-3; Michelle Koike 8-3-2; Nicole Buchholz 8-1-4; Megan Feldmeth 8-0-2; Diana Rutt 2-0-0; Karissa Hookstadt 2-4-0; Totals 52-9-6.0. (Assists) - Karissa Hookstadt 41. (Dig leaders) - Caitlynn Parnell 21; Karissa Hookstadt 18; Chelsie Kohout 14; Emily Schultz 14

GAME STATISTICS