Game Information
Score: Keiser 3, Point Park 1 (25-23, 25-20, 24-26, 25-14)
Records: Keiser (1-0), Point Park (1-2)
Location: McAlister Gymnasium – Montreat, N.C.
Point Park Starters: A. Taylor, N. Inquartano, M. Poirier, K. Burkes, S. Simonson, E. Weng; libero – M. Dangelo
Keiser Starters: M. Minke, S. Thompson, N. Papineau, V. Hietala, C. Zamora, N. McKown; libero – M. Leff
 
Highlights
Nikki McKown tallied 12 kills for the Seahawks and Megan Minke recorded a .444 hitting percentage as the Keiser Seahawks volleyball squad defeated the Point Park Pioneers to pick up its first win of the season at the Volley in the Mountains tournament in Montreat, N.C. The victory marked the fourth time in six seasons that the Seahawks began the regular season with a win. Keiser defeated Point Park, 3-1, putting forth a complete team effort for head coach Chris Taylor, winning sets one, two and four. Also having a big season opener for the Seahawks was senior captain Nicole Papineau, recording 37 assists. Alongside Papineau were Samantha Thompson, Chantelle Zamora and Minke who each notched 10 kills. Morgan Leff recorded a game-high 18 digs for the Seahawks.

How it Happened
Set One:
Keiser jumped out to a quick start in the first set as the Seahawks rallied off eight of the first 11 points to take a commanding 8-3 lead over the Pioneers. After Keiser expanded the lead to a set-high seven points, Point Park was forced to call its first timeout. The Pioneers rallied to even the set at 14 apiece following the stoppage of play. The two squads battled neck and neck down the final stretch of the first set with neither team leading by more than two points. With the score knotted at 23-23, Keiser pulled away for the 25-23 first-set victory thanks to back-to-back kills by Zamora and Minke.

Set Two:
The second set began much like the first one ended, as neither team was able to take a commanding lead. The Seahawks claimed an early 3-1 edge thanks to kills from McKown and Zamora. The two squads went back-and-forth, evening the contest at 12 apiece. Keiser tallied three consecutive points to take the 15-12 lead following three errors by the Pioneers. Keiser would stretch the lead to 21-16 following a kill by Thompson and a service ace by Papineau. Point Park closed the gap to 23-20, but the attempted rally was to no avail as McKown and Minke smashed consecutive kills to claim the second set, 25-20.

Set Three:
The Seahawks began the third set in convincing fashion, taking the early 5-2 lead following kills by McKown and Zamora. However, the Pioneers would not go away quietly as Point Park rallied from down three to take a 12-7 advantage. Trailing midway in the third set by five, the Seahawks fired off six consecutive points to take a one point lead. The rally began with an assisted block by McKown and Thompson. After the Pioneers evened the bout at 17-17, Minke delivered the go-ahead kill, assisted by Papineau. Keiser rallied around the momentum as Minke and McKown picked up an assisted block to stretch the Seahawks' lead to three. With Keiser eyeing the sweep, leading 24-21, the Pioneers claimed five unanswered points to force a shocking fourth set.

Set Four:
The Seahawks marked an early 5-1 lead thanks to three combined kills from Veera Hietala and McKown. Keiser maintained the momentum, stretching the lead to 13-5 with kills coming from Minke, Zamora and Thompson. The Seahawks opened the lead to as much as 11, cruising to a 25-14 fourth-set victory to claim the match, 3-1.
 
Team Leaders:
Point Park
Kills: 8 – Nikki Inquartano
Assists: 29 – Emily Meng
Digs: 17 – Ashley Taylor

Keiser
Kills: 12 – Nikki McKown
Assists: 37 – Nicole Papineau
Digs: 18 – Morgan Leff
 
Up Next
Keiser will square off against host Montreat College this afternoon at 5 p.m. on day one of the Volley in the Mountains Tournament. The Seahawks are 0-2 all-time against the Cavaliers.