Box Score ALBANY, NY – In one of the most tightly played matches this season, The College of Saint Rose finished on top in a five-set thriller that saw three matches go to extra points against Southern New Hampshire University, winning 3-2 (22-25, 26-24, 25-15, 24-26, 17-19) for the Northeast-10 Conference victory.

The Golden Knights (12-8/5-4) had many top performers tonight, including junior middle hitter Alex Gagliano coming up with a career-high 19 kills on a .357 hitting percentage along with six total blocks.  Sophomore setter Ariana Wilson controlled 35 assists to pace the offense, a season-high for her.  A pair of freshman outside hitters, Carissa Dube and Kelsey Lace, combined for 25 kills as Lace also found 12 digs.   
 
Freshman middle hitter Emma Houlihan impressed with her attacking as she led the match on 22 kills for the Penmen (9-12/1-8 NE-10).  Classmate setter Catherine Cotton dished out an impressive 51 assists to also have a match-high.  Another match high was also on the side of Southern New Hampshire as sophomore libero Kendra Mikuta had 24 digs.
 
Houlihan immediately got involved in the first game of the night, putting down seven kills on a .700 hitting percentage to help the Penmen claim victory in the first set.  Her seventh proved ever important as it was the game-winner from a Cotton pass, her 16^th of the set.  Dube led Saint Rose on five kills and a .714 hitting percentage.
 
The first of three sets that went to extra point came in the second game, as Saint Rose closed out the match's final two points after taking a timeout.  Gagliano grabbed both those points on two kills, first from Wilson then by sophomore setter Tori Daniels.  Earlier in the match, the Golden Knights went on an 8-0 run to jump out to a 19-13 lead before the Penmen fought back on the back of six kills by Houlihan.  Those six kills were matched by Gagliano however, helping to propel Saint Rose.
 
In the most lopsided game of the night, the Golden Knights took full control during the third game to take a 2-1 lead in the match.  Junior outside hitter Christina Strezenec was the focal point of the attack, swinging down five kills with Wilson picking up seven assists.  Two service aces helped close out the match, as sophomore libero Katy Daniels helped pick up the win.
 
Despite three different individuals tallying four kills each for Saint Rose, timely attacking and well played defense allowed the Penmen to earn the fourth game, forcing a decisive fifth set.  Mikuta picked up 10 digs to help keep the Penmen rally going and the defense at the net forced three attacking errors by the Golden Knights in the final six points of the match.
 
Neither team was willing to give up an inch in the fifth game, as Houlihan and Gagliano again matched each other with four kills apiece.  However, it was Gagliano who had the most important last kill that gave her team the victory as Wilson found her at the net.
 
A quick turnaround for Saint Rose, as the team is right back into action tomorrow afternoon for a match against visiting conference foe Franklin Pierce.  First serve is scheduled for 1:00 pm.  The Penmen are also playing tomorrow at 1:00 pm, as the team travels to Syracuse to face NE-10 rival Le Moyne. 

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