SBU Sports: Volleyball starts season with wins over Delaware State & Presbyterian

Offensively, Kali Moore secured double-doubles in both matches to help propel the team past the Hornets and Blue Hose, while Leoni Kunz tallied herself a double-double against Delaware State. Contributing to their success, Torri Henry recorded 91 total assists throughout the two-match day.

The Seawolves began match one trading set wins with Delaware State before finishing it off in the final deciding set. The squad would end on a high note, scoring first and never trailing to secure the victory by a match-high 10-point lead. Kunz (.429) and Moore (.208) led the attack with 20 kills apiece, as Henry totaled 49 assists, Julia Patsos added 26 digs, and Mercedes Motton tied her career-high with seven blocks.

Identical to the first match, Stony Brook and Presbyterian went back-and-forth in their efforts. In the fifth set, the Seawolves once again took the lead and did not falter, closing out the match with a 15-8 deciding score. Moore (.227) had a team-high 23 kills as rookie outside hitter Quinn Anderson (.231) tallied 13 of her own. Ashleigh Woodruff (.450) added a career-high 10 kills against the Blue Hose. Henry led with 42 assists and 31 digs to round out the squad.

MATCH 1: STONY BROOK – 3, DELAWARE STATE – 2 (25-18, 25-27, 25-20, 23-25, 15-5)

• This marked the third time in program history that the teams went head-to-head and the first time since October 23, 2015. The Seawolves improved to 3-0 all-time against the Hornets, and today being the first match to go five sets.
• Junior outside hitter Kali Moore registered a double-double with a team-high 20 kills on .208 hitting. She also totaled 13 digs, three blocks, and a pair of assists.
• Graduate student outside hitter Leoni Kunz also recorded a double-double, the 15^th of her career, with a team-high 20 kills on .429 hitting. She added 12 digs, four blocks, and one assist.
• Reigning CAA Setter of the Year Torri Henry recorded 49 assists in the victory and had a match-high four aces.
• Graduate student libero Julia Patsos led the Seawolves with 26 digs.
• Sophomore middle blocker Mercedes Motton tied her career-high with seven blocks.
• Graduate student middle blocker Abby Campbell had a team-high three aces in the win.

MATCH 2: STONY BROOK – 3, PRESBYTERIAN – 2 (25-16, 14-25, 25-19, 23-25, 15-8)

• This was the first meeting between the Seawolves an Blue Hose in program history.
• Moore registered her 21^st career double-double with 23 kills and 24 digs. She also had three aces, one assist, and one block in the victory.
• Outside hitter Quinn Anderson led all freshman with 13 kills.
• Kunz contributed with 12 kills, seven digs, two blocks, and one assist.
• Sophomore middle blocker Ashleigh Woodruff added a career-high 10 kills.
• After tallying 49 assists in the first game, Henry dished out a match-high 42 assists and 31 digs. She also had four aces, one kill, and one block.
• Freshman libero/defensive specialist Zayda Fuertez dug 15 balls in the victory for the Seawolves.

“Starting off the season competing in back-to-back five set matches is incredibly tough,” head coach Kristin Belzung noted postgame. “I thought we fought to adapt throughout both matches and am proud of our fight. To have so many people step up and contribute is something that will be a strength of ours this season.”

NEXT UP
The Seawolves are back in action Aug. 31 as they face off against invitational host James Madison University at 12:00 p.m. This will be only the second meeting between these two teams in program history, as the Dukes earned a straight sweep back in 2019.