Carnegie Mellon Opens Day One of UAA Round Robin with Two Wins

Carnegie Mellon Opens Day One of UAA Round Robin with Two Wins

(ATLANTA, Ga.) - The Carnegie Mellon University volleyball team defeated the University of Rochester 3-0 and Case Western Reserve Univeristy 3-1 on the first day of University Athletic Association (UAA) Round Robin play hosted by Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. The Tartans improve to 12-3 and 2-0 for the season.

Against Rochester (9-11, 0-2), freshman Eliza Donohue (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield) and senior Ali Celentano (Mission Viejo, Calif./JSerra Catholic) each recorded seven kills.  Tallying 11 assists a piece were freshman Amanda Thiele (Lakeland, Fla./George Jenkins) and sophomore Emily Newton (Manhattan Beach, Calif./Chadwick School). Defensively, sophomore libero Molly Higgins (Vero Beach, Fla./Vero Beach) added 13 digs.

In the win over Case Western (10-6, 0-1) Celentano picked up 18 kills, sophomore Jackie Gibbons (Evanston, Ill./Evanston Township) added 16, and freshman Heather Holton (Haslett, Mich./Haslett) knocked down 13.  Newton set up 37 assists and Thiele added 11.  Higgins played strong defense with 22 digs with the help of freshman Hannah Wooten who popped up 12 digs.

"We are excited about a great start to our UAA conference play today," said head coach Kim Kelly.  "We are looking forward to a very competitive match against Emory tomorrow."

The Tartans will resume play on the second day of the first UAA Round Robin tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. against third-ranked Emory University.