MANCHESTER, NH (Sept. 2, 2023) - Georgian Court started their season taking on Southern New Hampshire. The two teams played a competitive match but the Penmen picked up the win 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-23).

How it Happened
• For the match, Southern New Hampshire hit .258 to the Lions .177. They landed six more kills, 38-32. 
• The Penmen also held small advantages in blocks, 8-6 and service aces, 9-6.
• Defensively, SNHU picked up 42 digs to the Lions 35.
Set 1
• The first set started off with both teams trading points. Tied at four, the Lions scored three of the next four points for a 7-5 advantage. 
• The Penmen answered with four straight of their own to take a 9-7 lead and led for the rest of the set. They pushed the lead out to seven, 19-12 before taking the opening set 25-19.
• Much of the set was evenly matched. SNHU though landed five service aces to the Lions zero which proved to be the difference in the set. 
Set 2
• Southern New Hampshire jumped out early in set two and never looked back. With the Lions down just one, 13-12, the Penman scored three straight with a pair of kills and a service ace to force a Lions timeout. 
• Georgian Court was unable to get back as the Penmen took a 2-0 lead with a 25-21 win.
• Like set one, much of the second was evenly played. SNHU putback six blocks to the Lions one though and took the set by four points. 
Set 3
• The Lions nearly completed a big comeback in set three. SNHU scored four straight to take a 6-3 lead as the Lions called timeout. 
• SNHU kept that lead and looked to be cruising to a sweep leading 22-15. Still ahead by four, 24-20, GCU scored three straight to get back to within one, but after a Penmen timeout, they landed a kill to end the match.

Lion Stat Leaders
• Nylene Mateo led the Lions with 11 kills and hit .300 for the match.
• Giorgia Cappelletti was also in double-figures with 10 kills and picked up seven digs. She landed a pair of aces as well.
• Iciar Zayas led GCU with 27 assists and added seven digs.
• Jessica Sprankle led the defensive effort with nine with and two service aces.
• Martina Croce also picked up nine digs while adding three kills and two aces.

For the Penmen
• Carmen Bernardis and Ana Pimenta each landed a team-high 11 kills. Bernardis hit .450 and Pimenta added nine digs.
• Ella Koelb nearly had a double-double with 30 assists and eight digs.
• Dai Thawnghmung finished with seven kills and five digs. 

News and Notes
• The match was the first for Lions Head Coach Shana Rayside.
• Iciar Zayas passed out her 800th career assist, just the ninth Lion to reach that milestone. 
• Southern New Hampshire was receiving votes in the AVCA Preseason Coaches Poll.

Up Next
• Georgian Court has another match later this afternoon as they take on St. Anselm at 4 p.m.