GREENVILLE, Pa. – The Westminster College volleyball team defeated non-conference opponent Hilbert College, 3-0, and Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) opponent Thiel College, 3-1, in a tri-match hosted by Thiel on Friday evening.
 
In set one of match number one, Westminster (26-2) jumped out to an early 4-0 lead. After Hilbert (0-18) earned a point, the Titans orchestrated a 5-0 run to take a 9-1 lead. Westminster again went on a run, this time scoring five straight points to take an 18-4 advantage. The Titans' took set one, 25-10. In set two, Hilbert took its first lead of the match (11-10). However, Westminster scored 15 straight points to win set two, 25-11. First-year Maya Thornton (Clarion, PA / Clarion Area) earned four service aces during the run. The Titans mirrored the set two score with a 25-11 set three victory. Senior Delaney Saxton (Cortland, OH / Brookfield) totaled a match-high 12 kills. Senior Shanna Daniels (Hermitage, PA / Billy C. Ryan) totaled a team-high 13 assists, while first-year Samantha Kelly (Irwin, PA / Penn-Trafford) had 10. Thornton led all players with a career-high five service aces. Senior Mackensie Garris (Meadville, PA / Saegertown) led the Titan defense with nine digs. Junior Haley Farmerie (Manor, PA / Greensburg Central Catholic) and sophomore Josie Toporcer (Warren, OH / Lordstown) each tallied a match-high two blocks.
 
In match number two, Thiel (14-16, 6-8 PAC) jumped out to an early 10-8 lead in game one. Westminster (27-2, 13-1 PAC) went on a 4-0 run, courtesy of two kills from Saxton, to take a 12-10 lead. The Titans and Tomcats would trade points back and forth, tying eight separate times, the last with the score reaching 20-20. Westminster tallied three straight points, capped off by Saxton, to lead 23-20. Thiel got within one (24-23), but Westminster took advantage of a Tomcat service error to win set one, 25-23. In set two, Thiel led, 12-11, and stretched that lead (19-11) after a 7-0 run. The Tomcats took set two, 25-19. Westminster started set three with a 10-8 advantage, and led by as much as six points (18-12). The Tomcats would tie the game at 22, however, Westminster ended the game on a 3-0 run and took the set, 25-22. Thiel took an early 5-4 lead in set four, but Westminster regained the lead and kept the Tomcats at bay, winning by a score of 25-14.
 
Saxton led all players with 13 kills. First-year Becky Adelman (Mogadore, OH / Waterloo) totaled 10 kills, while junior Reilly DeGeorge (Ashtabula, OH / Saint John) had nine. Saxton tied a career-high with a match-high five blocks. Farmerie tallied four blocks and Adelman registered three. Daniels finished with a team-best 27 assists, while Kelly added 21 of her own. On the defensive side, senior Rachel Moore (Greensburg, PA / Greensburg Central Catholic) totaled a match-best 34 digs. DeGeorge and Garris also had 26 and 15 digs, respectively.
 
Westminster is back in action Wednesday, October 24 at home for senior day against PAC opponent Chatham University. Start time is set for 7 p.m.