CHICAGO – Make it a flawless start to 2018 for the University of Chicago volleyball team after the Maroons enacted two straight, three-set sweeps over Kalamazoo College and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Friday.

The Maroons (2-0) return to action for two more matches Saturday to conclude the Gargoyle Classic, taking on Cornell College at 10 a.m. CT and Albion at 12 p.m. CT.

UCHICAGO 3, KALAMAZOO 0
UChicago came out of the gate strong in its opening match of the year, blowing past the Hornets (0-1) by a score of 25-9 in the first set. The Maroons would easily go on to win Sets 2 and 3 by scores of 25-14 and 25-15.

The first set was telling, when tied at 6-6, junior Madison Pearson served up seven straight aces to put UChicago up, 12-6. The Maroons would go on to finish with 13 aces in the match.

Sophomore setter Emma Griffith spread the wealth with her 30 assists, as junior Anabella Pinton (7 kills), junior Anne Marie Stifter (7 kills), rookie Julianna Kalil (5 kills), and sophomore Fredericka Paulson (5 kills) all benefited the most for the offense.

The Maroons front line hit a solid .310 – to the tune of 38 kills – while holding the Hornets to a negative attack percentage at -.015 (12 kills).

Defensively, sophomore libero Katherine Wilson tallied 12 digs to lead that category.

UCHICAGO 3, ROSE-HULMAN 0  
The Maroons stayed lively in the final match of the day, pulling out a battle in a 25-21 first set before going on to win the final two games, 25-18 and 25-17.

Senior Audrey Scrafford led the front line with 13 kills (.312 attack percentage) while teammates Sarah Muisenga and Anne Marie Stifter added nine kills each. Sophomore Emma Griffith totaled a season-high 37 assists in another stellar performance quarterbacking the offense.

Rose-Hulman (1-1) brough some offense of their own, but the Maroons' defense held tough with a total of 68 kills, with four players – Katherine Wilson (19), Anne Marie Stifter (14), Sarah Muisenga (12) and Griffith (11) totaling double-digit digs.

UChicago recorded another solid .223 attack percentage for the match, including a blister second set in which they hit for 16 kills and just 4 errors (.343).

NEXT MATCHES:

• Saturday, Sept. 1: UChicago vs. Cornell College, 10 a.m. / UChicago vs. Albion, 12 p.m. CT