WINCHESTER, Va. – Shenandoah University opened up its 2021 volleyball season Saturday by sweeping a tri-match from Randolph and Mount Aloysius.
 
Shenandoah (2-0, 1-0 ODAC) won a thrilling, 3-2, decision over Randolph in the opener before sweeping Mount Aloysius, 3-0, in the final match of the day.

MATCH ONE

Down 10-6 in the fifth and deciding set versus Randolph (0-2, 0-1), SU roared back to win, 20-18, and steal the 18-25, 25-13, 20-25, 25-15, 20-18 victory.
 
Trailing by four points, the Hornets got themselves in position to earn the win by scoring five of the fifth set's next six points to tie it at 11.
 
From this point on, the two teams were never separated by more than two points and were tied on six different occasions.
 
Shenandoah served for the match at both 17 and 18 before finally closing out the 'Cats by earning the serve back on a Randolph service error and then getting a Kate Poppo kill.
 
Poppo led the victors with 21 kills with Jillian Warter adding 17. Megan Hillyard had 21 of the Hornets 52 assists and also added 12 digs.
 
SU had 77 digs in the match with Poppo, Warter and Ashley Thompson all joining Hillyard in double digits. 

MATCH TWO

The final match of the day featured 13 lead changes and 13 ties, but Shenandoah was able to dispatch Mount Aloysius by winning at 15, 22, and 20.
 
After having to outlast the Mounties (1-1) in the opening two sets, the Hornets led wire-to-wire in the third. Coach Kent Clayberg's club scored the first six points of the set and were never really threatened in closing out the win.
 
Poppo led all players with 15 kills with Warter adding 11 and Payton Clary nine.
 
Hillyard had 17 digs to go along with 17 assists; Warter's 12 digs gave her a double-double as well.
 

UP NEXT

Shenandoah hosts Virginia Wesleyan on Tuesday in a 6:30 ODAC match.
 
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