The Saint Anselm College volleyball team won their first match last weekend against Felician. Playing in front of their home crowd at Stoutenburgh Gym, the Hawks fought Felician University in four sets, 26-24, 25-19, 24-26, 25-20, behind a balanced attack that featured three players with double-doubles and a freshman setter who really stood out in this match.

For the first time since October of 2022, three different Saint Anselm players posted double-doubles in the same match, showing just how deep and versatile this roster can be.

Freshman setter Mckenna O’Connell stole the spotlight with 42 assists, the most by a Hawk since Michelle Henwood ’22 hit the same number nearly three years ago. O’Connell added 15 digs to record her second straight double-double, proving she’s already a cornerstone of this team. She chipped in offensively too, finishing with two kills and two block assists.

Junior outside hitter Hollyn Frano, who has quickly established herself as the team’s go-to scorer, did it again Saturday with 13 kills and 11 digs. She also stood out at the serving line, firing three aces to go along with an assist. Her 16 total points led the Hawks for the second match in a row.

Perhaps the biggest surprise, though, came from freshman Addison Shelton. After barely seeing the floor the night before, Shelton looked like a seasoned starter, piling up 10 kills, 11 digs, two assists, two aces, and a pair of blocks for 13 points. Her all-around play gave Saint Anselm an extra spark whenever Felician tried to swing momentum their way.

Other players chipped in with big moments as well. Freshman Peyton Elward scored 15 points on eight kills, five aces, and three block assists, while hitting a strong .278. Junior libero Madeline Burke kept the defense steady with 21 digs, her fifth career match with 20 or more.

Saint Anselm jumped to a 10-5 lead thanks to a Frano kill and a Taylor Lacerda ace, but Felician clawed back to tie things at 15 and later held a 21-19 edge. Shelton came up big late, delivering the final kill at 26-24 to put her team on the board first.

The second set was similar. Felician raced to a 4-1 lead and held a 13-9 advantage midway through. But once again, the Hawks turned to their serving game. Senior Skylar Ryan dropped in back-to-back aces, and Elward followed with three straight of her own during a key run. O’Connell capped things off with a perfectly timed kill to close out the 25-19 win and push the Hawks ahead 2-0.

To their credit, the Golden Falcons didn’t fold. They grabbed an early lead in the third set and, though Saint Anselm rallied to move ahead 19-15, Felician put together a late push of their own. A well-placed ace tied the set at 21, and this time it was the visitors who found a way to close, winning 26-24 and extending the match.

But any hopes of a comeback ended quickly in the fourth. The Hawks jumped the Felician with an 8-2 start, and Shelton’s service ace stretched the lead to 13-4. Though the Falcons cut the deficit to 17-13, Saint Anselm never let them back within striking distance. Elward and Shelton kept hammering down kills, and a late Felician error sealed the 25-20 victory.

Now the Hawks turn their attention south, as they’ll head to Greenwood, S.C., next weekend for the Redderson Invitational hosted by Lander University. It will be a two-day stretch with four matches, starting Friday, Sept. 12, against Young Harris University at 12:30 p.m. If Saturday’s win was any indication, Saint Anselm is beginning to hit its stride at just the right time.