ALBANY–Senior Katy Daniels had 34 digs throughout two matches that allowed The College of Saint Rose to pick up a pair of wins, including a come-from-behind victory, in its home tri-match Saturday afternoon in Daniel P. Nolan Gymnasium, defeating Pitt-Johnstown 3-2 (19-25, 19-25, 25-19, 25-16, 15-12) and later shutting out Roberts Wesleyan 3-0 (25-18, 25-22, 25-20).

Against the Mountain Cats (3-1), Saint Rose found itself down 2-0 after the first two sets, both with scores of 25-19. Pitt-Johnstown jumped out to a 9-0 lead in set one before the Golden Knights (2-2) called their first timeout. A service error from the Mountain Cats put Saint Rose on the board, but Pitt-Johnstown kept firing with another 4-0 run. Saint Rose picked up the pace with its own eight-point run, and later with a 5-0 spurt, but it would not be enough to bridge the gap as Pitt.-Johnstown claimed game one.

In the second set, both teams dished out runs to tie three times, which included two lead changes, before the Mountain Cats pulled away with a 5-0 spurt and a 12-8 advantage. Pitt-Johnstown used two more three-plus-point runs to keep Saint Rose at an arm's length and take a 2-0 lead heading into set three.

Six ties and two lead changes made the beginning of set three go back and forth. The final tie, at 9-9, proved to be the last as the Golden Knights chalked up five points in a row to hold onto the lead for the remainder of the set. Both teams took turns chipping away at the board before Saint Rose used a four-point surge to close out the game, forcing a fourth set.

After five ties in the fourth, the Golden Knights pulled ahead again, and used a pair of three-point runs and a 4-0 spurt to tie the game at 2-2, and move to the fifth set.

The Mountain Cats jumped ahead early in the fifth, but the Golden Knights tied the game four times until they took the lead after 10-10. Two huge kills from sophomore outside hitter Maryellen Devic, and a block assist from Devic and freshman middle hitter Maddy Halverson sealed the win for Saint Rose.

Against the Redhawks (4-3), the Golden Knights wasted no time as they started off with a 5-1 lead. Roberts Wesleyan knocked down three in a row just a few points later, and forced five ties and four lead changes before Saint Rose moved ahead. The Golden Knights put the Redhawks at an arm's length with three more 3-0 runs to close out set one.

Leading 22-15 in the second, Saint Rose gave up a six-point spurt to Roberts Wesleyan, but it wouldn't be enough as the Golden Knights kept on pushing, and eventually took a 25-22 win.

Both teams took turns leading in the third and final set, and posted the last tie at 4-4 before Saint Rose tacked on six in a row for a 10-4 lead. The Redhawks attempted to combat the disadvantage with their own 3-0 and 4-0 runs throughout the set, but Saint Rose kept steady, and knocked down three consecutive points to close out the set and claim the win.

Devic led the attack with 27 kills on the day, while setters Tori Daniels and Erica Ziskin combined for 70 assists. Ziskin also slapped five service aces, along with four more from senior setter Arianna Wilson. Sophomore middle hitter Jennifer Gundrum led with nine total blocks, followed by junior outside hitter Kelsey Lace with seven. Lace also registered 17 kills.

The Golden Knights hit the road for a 7:00 pm meeting at Mercy on Tuesday in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. Saint Rose returns to Albany on Tuesday, September 30 to host Southern Connecticut State, also at 7:00 pm, in a Northeast-10 Conference match.      

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