RINDGE, N.H. (October 3, 2014) – Freshman Hannah St. Jean (Olympia, Wash.) recorded a career-best 11 blocks on Friday night, as the Franklin Pierce University Ravens volleyball team extended their winning streak to five games with a triumphant 3-2 win over the New York Institute of Technology Bears at the Fieldhouse in Rindge, N.H.

St. Jean was the catalyst to what has been an improving net game all season, and helped finally make it break out in a big way. The Ravens came out firing on all cylinders in the first set, taking a one sided 25-16 win to take the 1-0 advantage. NYIT responded by showing poise, taking the next two sets by very close scores. The Ravens hung in and made things interesting, but ultimately lost the second and third sets 25-21, and 25-23. With their backs against the wall, the Ravens responded in the fourth set, staging a come-from-behind 25-21 win to tie the match up at two sets a piece. In the final set, the Ravens were down early, down 8-6. But the Ravens responded yet again, going on a run and taking the final set 15-11 to take the match win 3-2.

Senior Catie Swiderski (Rocky Point, N.Y.) and freshman Hannah Runge (Deltona, Fla.) each finished with a double-double, both contributing with five blocks, while sophomores Aiden Garcia (Eagle Pass, T.X.) and Kelsey Hausman (Sandy, Utah) chipped in with three apiece. Freshman Madison Klusendorf (Santa Maria, Calif.) also made an appearance in the score sheet with a block as well.

However, Klusendorf made her mark in the kill column, where she led the team with a dominating 16 kills, with at one point recording kills in five rallies in a row. Swiderski was the only other Raven in double figure kills with 14, while Garcia added nine. In the middle of all the offense was Runge, who backed up a 33 assist performance Tuesday night with a solid 42 assist night tonight.

When the Bears were able to get the ball past the wall the Ravens created up front, Franklin Pierce was also able to play solid defense in the back court. Five different Ravens recorded double-figure digs, led by Swiderski with 19. Junior libero Sarah MacHugh (Red Hook, N.Y.) was not far behind with a great game of her own, getting 16 kills.

For NYIT, it was Kate Brock with the big night, throwing down 18 kills with a kill percentage of .389. Karolina Moderova was the other Bear in double-figure kills with 13. Caroline Herrera and Taylor Pulley each recorded double-figure assists, as Herrera finished with 21 and Pully dishing out 18. Defensively, the Bears were also solid at the net, recording 10 team blocks, with Megan Mannle having a hand in six of them. Libero Becky Syers had a big night, scooping up a game-high 27 digs for the Bears.

The Ravens improve to 8-6 overall, and return to the court tomorrow, October 4, when they take on ECC standout LIU Post at 3 p.m. in the Fieldhouse.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce volleyball apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).