MANCHESTER, N.H. (November 9, 2021) – Junior Lois Dogbe (11 kills) and freshman Gabby Belcher (10 kills) led the way on Tuesday night as Saint Anselm swept the visiting Franklin Pierce University volleyball team, 3-0, at Stoutenburgh Gymnasium (25-16, 26-24, 25-22). Junior Tessa Brandt (Foster, R.I.) had nine kills in defeat for Franklin Pierce, while sophomore Morgan Schmutzler (Lockport, Ill.) collected 19 digs in the Northeast-10 Conference match.

With the loss Franklin Pierce moves to 12-11 (6-6 NE10), while Saint Anselm improves to 18-6 (8-3 NE10). The Ravens will have their postseason hopes on the line in the final match of the season. Franklin Pierce travels to Assumption on Saturday, Nov. 13, at 1 p.m.

The match started fairly even between the two squads with the lead changing five times before Saint Anselm took off on a 15-6 run in the first set. The second set was more competitive, though Franklin Pierce never took a lead. Trailing 23-17, the Ravens mounted a comeback, scored five points in a row, and later drew level at 24-24. Saint Anselm got back-to-back points from there though, to take a 2-0 lead.

The third and final set of the match went to the Hawks as well, 25-22. Franklin Pierce took an early 9-2 lead. Still ahead 12-9, the Ravens surrendered five straight points, as the Hawks surged out front, 14-12, and would not relinquish the lead the rest of the way.

Brandt had nine kills to lead the offense, while senior Cierra Dolan (Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) hit .462 with seven kills over 13 attempts, and senior Kennedy Garnhart (Colorado Springs, Colo.) dished out 17 assists. Schmutzler and freshman Hannah Hillis (San Clemente, Calif.) were both in double digits defensively, with 19 and 11 digs, respectively.

For Saint Anselm, Dogbe paced the offense, as she had 11 kills and hit .429 over 21 attacks, while Belcher chipped in 10 kills and hit .259 over 27 attempts. The duo, and the rest of the Hawks' offense, worked off the set of junior Michelle Hemwood, who tallied 31 assists. Three Saint Anselm players reached double digits in digs: junior Lauren Casey (12), sophomore Alina Barbarena (11) and sophomore Kaitlin Brown (11).