Sparkill, N.Y. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Women's Volleyball team earned its first NCAA home victory, defeating Lincoln University (Pa.) 3-1 on Friday afternoon in the opener of the Spartans tri-match with the Lions and Felician University at Aquinas Hall.

STAC fell in the night cap to the Golden Falcons, 3-1.

The split of contests moves the Spartans to 2-3 on the year, while Lincoln falls to 3-3 and Felician improves to 2-7.

HOW IT HAPPENED: Match 1 vs. Lincoln

The Spartans recorded double-digit kills in three of four sets (9, 15, 11, 10) of the opening match with the Lions for a .273 attack percentage to secure the 3-1 win.

After capturing the first two sets (25-22 & 25-12), the Lions edged the Spartans for a 25-23 third set win. STAC was able to put the visitors in the rearview mirror in the final set of the match with a 25-17 victory to secure their first home victory of the 2023 season.

Jaizahir Marrero-George (Carolina, Puerto Rico) paced the Spartans offense with 20 kills, while Lorielys Ruiz (Camuy, Puerto Rico) had 8. Aurivette Santos Bonilla (Villalba, Puerto Rico) was the libero for match and she secured 7 digs, while Dahiana Garcia Atuesta had 5.

HOW IT HAPPENED: Match 2 vs. Felician

The final match of the evening, featured the Spartans and Golden Falcons. The maroon and gold posted 39 team kills for a .104 kill percentage in four sets, bowing to Felician in four sets, 3-1.

Felician was victorious after the first two sets (25-23 & 25-16), however, the Spartans battled back and took the third set from the Golden Falcons, 25-20. In the fourth and final set, Felician trailed STAC 16-12, but ultimately rallied back to edge STAC 25-18.
 
Jaizahir Marrero-George recorded 19 kills, while Lorielys Ruiz had 9. Elizabeth Salmon (San Marcos, Texas) defended the net with 2 blocks, while Aurivette Santos Bonilla defended the back line with 17 digs.

UP NEXT:

STAC heads to Western New York to take on Roberts Wesleyan University on Saturday, September 23 in the team's ECC opener. The Spartans and Redhawks are set to square off at Noon in Rochester, N.Y.