RADNOR, PA – After eight consecutive road and neutral site matches to open the season, Cabrini volleyball team made the most of its home opener tonight, rallying to score a 3-1 victory over Neumann University.

The 20-25, 25-20, 25-20, 25-19 victory marks the Cavaliers' first win of the season and extends the club's Colonial States Athletic Conference win streak to 38 matches.

The trio of senior Kelly Guarino, sophomore Ashley Shannon and freshman Emily Stokarski led the Blue and White with matching double-doubles.  

Guarino paired 11 kills and 18 digs, while Shannon posted a match high 12 kills with 12 digs. Stokarski notched her first career double-double with career highs of 33 assists and 15 digs.

Cabrini jumped out to an early lead before Neumann rallied. A Knights' service ace extended their lead to 18-11.  A kill by junior Anne-Marie Jones stopped a Neumann run and spurred the Blue and White to a five point spurt, with a Stokarski service ace pulling Cabrini to within 19-17.  Neumann stemmed the Cavaliers' tide, scoring five of the last seven points of the set.

Both teams exchanged leads early in the second frame, with Cabrini building an early 11-6 cushion.  Neumann had an answer, using an 8-1 run to pull ahead 14-12. The Cavaliers took advantage of four Neumann attack errors to reclaim a lead it would not relinquish, en route to a 25-20 set win to even the match at 1-1.

The third set was a tight affair, featuring five ties and three lead changes.  The Knights led by as much as 14-10 midway through the set, but the Cavaliers batteld back.  The final tie came at 18-18, but four consecutive Blue and White points proved to be the lead Cabrini needed to capture the set.

The Cavaliers were in control of the final frame from the opening serve.  Cabrini built a 15-7 lead before a 4-0 Neumann run cut the advantage in half.  Cabrini head coach Eric Schaefer's time out refocused the Blue and White, who never let its lead slip below three points.

Sophomore Ashley Shannon tallied a career and match high 26 digs, while freshman Kristen Bettermann's 18 digs also marked a career best. Jones finished the night with nine kills and seven digs, while Guarino and Stokarski accounted for six of Cabrini's 10 service aces.

Freshman Melanie Malseed led Neumann (1-6, 0-1 CSAC) with nine kills, while sophomore Rachel Hoffman recorded 10 total blocks.  Freshman Rachel Cray paired 27 assists and 16 digs for the Knights.

The Cavaliers have a few days to enjoy tonight's win before returning to the court next Thursday, when they welcome Centenary University (1-6, 0-0 CSAC) to Nerney Field House.  First serve is slated for 7pm.