Salisbury goes 4-0 in SU Invitational with two wins Saturday

SALISBURY, Md. - The second and final day of the SU Invitational ended with the Sea Gulls on top, as Salisbury defeated Allegheny College, 3-1 (25-19, 25-10, 22-25, 27-25). Salisbury also defeated Baldwin-Wallace College, 3-1, earning the Sea Gulls a perfect 4-0 record in the tournament and improving their season record to 12-1.

Senior libero Gabby Long (Bel Air, Md.) had 27 digs in the first match, against the Gators, while senior middle hitter Nicole Massarelli (Clarksville, Md.) tacked on five blocks and 10 kills. Senior outside hitter and MVP of the tournament Rachel Downes (Salisbury, Md.) finished with eight kills, one ace and eight digs.

The second match against Baldwin-Wallace brought roars of excitement to Maggs Physical Activities Center, as the first game was a back and forth battle that eventually went to the Gulls, 34-32. Salisbury won in four games, 34-32, 25-14, 28-26 and 25-19, to end the day on a high note. Junior outside hitter Lexy Fitzkee (Fallston, Md.) led the way for the Sea Gulls with a team-high 17 kills and 14 digs. Long had another strong match with six assists, three service aces and a team-high 22 digs. Freshman setter Carley Todd (Centerport, N.Y.) finished with a team-high 28 assists and five digs.

In other tournament news, Haverford College defeated Allegheny College in three games, 25-24, 25-13 and 25-21 to bring their tournament record to 3-1. Haverford also defeated the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey in five games, 25-22, 25-19, 21-25, 19-25 and 15-9. Baldwin-Wallace's first game, against Stockton, went to five games as the Yellow Jackets fell to the Ospreys by a scores of 26-28, 23-25, 25-19, 25-20, 15-10.

The Sea Gulls will remain at home, as they host Capital Athletic Conference foe Mary Washington on Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 7 p.m.

2009 SU Invitational All-Tournament Team

MVP:      Rachel Downes (Salisbury University)
              Gabby Long (Salisbury University)
              Christine Velott (Richard Stockton)
              Rebecca Salvo (Haverford)
              Kate Comey (Haverford)
              Cailegh Hughes (Allegheny)
              Abbey Thompson (Baldwin-Wallace)