Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

The Shippensburg University volleyball team opened up its 2013 season with two victories on the first day of the Catawba Invitational on Friday, recording victories over Queens (N.C.) and host Catawba from Goodman Gym. Set scores were 18-25, 25-23, 25-22, 27-25 vs. Queens (N.C.) and 25-23, 25-15, 25-21 vs. the Indians.

Senior Jill Edwards totaled 33 kills and 15 digs on the day while sophomore Taylor Gottshall tallied 14 kills. Sophomore Faith Athey and freshman Gabbie Holt each contributed 11 kills.

In her debut as SU's setter, freshman Maura Nolan totaled 76 assists on the day.

The Raiders will square off against Lenoir-Rhyne on Saturday at 1 p.m. in their final day at Catawba.

Shippensburg 3, Queens (N.C.) 1

After bearing the brunt of a potent Queens (N.C.) attack that ripped 16 kills on just one error in the first set (.714 hitting percentage), the Raiders recovered and established a rhythm that ultimately allowed them to take the next three sets over the Royals.

Jill Edwards paced the Raiders with 19 kills, 11 digs and an impressive .312 hitting percentage (only four errors on 48 attempts). The performance marked her 46th career double-double. In the match's final point, she teamed up with Gottshall for a block that gave SU the win. Gottshall had six kills, four block assists and hit .284.

Senior Samantha Edwards swung to a .188 percentage and added 12 kills – a total two short of her career high – for her sixth career game in double digits. She was clutch late in each of the final sets. Sam ripped a kill in frame two that put SU up 24-23 and closed the third frame with a kill. In the fourth set, her kill at 24-25 helped the Raiders stave off the fifth set and began a three-point rally that clinched the victory.

Nolan contributed 41 assists and nine digs while sophomore Casey Hawbaker returned to the Raider rotation and tied for a team-high with 11 digs. Holt debuted with four kills, seven digs and three blocks.

SU also took advantage of an opponent that struggled on serve, as the Royals totaled 14 service errors in the match. Keri Kemp paced the opponent with 19 kills and 10 digs. 

Shippensburg 3, Catawba 0

After an early Catawba lead in the first set, the Raiders used a 10-3 run to take a 16-13 lead midway through. SU eventually had a 20-16 lead before the Indians battled back to a 23-22 Raider advantage. A pair of Catawba errors gave the Raiders the opening-set win.

The final two sets of the sweep came more comfortably, with Shippensburg limiting Catawba to just seven kills and a zero hitting percentage in the 25-15 second-set victory. SU led by as many as seven in the final set before a Jill Edwards kill finished off the 25-21 victory for the match.

Jill Edwards totaled a match-high 14 kills with five errors on 35 total attacks. Gottshall added eight kills with just one error for a .636 hitting percentage while Holt hit at a .500 clip with seven kills. Hawbaker had a team-high nine digs and Nolan paced SU with 35 assists.