September 5, 2009

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AIKEN, S.C.—Senior Galina Podolsky (Raleigh, N.C.) and sophomore Heather Bolwerk (Appleton, Wis.) were the only two St. Andrews Presbyterian College volleyball players to post positive hitting percentages as non-conference Armstrong Atlantic State University and Augusta State University both swept the Lady Knights on Saturday at the 2009 USC Aiken Invitational.

The Knights stumble to 5-3 on the season but will try and get back on the winning track in their Conference Carolinas opener on Tuesday night. St. Andrews host league foe Barton College at 7 p.m. Admission is free to all fans.

MATCH ONE: Armstrong Atlantic State 3, St. Andrews 0

The Peach Belt Conference preseason favorites, who are receiving votes in the current AVCA national poll, hit .327 against the Knights en route to a 25-18, 25-16, 25-10 sweep. AASU has a 5-1 overall record after the victory.

Podolsky and Bolwerk led the Knights offensively with five and four kills, respectively. Bolwerk added six digs.

Senior Courtney McDonald (Leander, Texas) made a match-high 15 digs while classmate Jaime Hayes (Gulf Breeze, Fla.) lifted up seven digs. Hayes also set up the attack with 10 assists.

Torrie Bevolo (St. Louis, Mo.) led the Pirates with a 13 kill, 11 dig double-double. Katherine Standhardinger (Munich, Germany) had 10 kills on 13 swings for a .769 hitting percentage while sister Kristin Standhardinger (Munich, Germany) had a match-high 38 assists.

MATCH TWO: Augusta State 3, St. Andrews 0

Augusta State managed to keep St. Andrews out of the win column at the USCA Invitational with a 25-9, 25-20, 25-14 sweep in the tournament finale. The Jaguars improved to 5-1 on the season with the win.

The Knights were held to their worst offensive performance of the season as Podolsky accounted for half of the teams kills with five spikes. Podolsky also had three blocks and two service aces.

McDonald manufactured 14 digs and served up a team-high three aces. Hayes handed out nine assists. Freshman Kelly Stine (Fort Collins, Colo.) chipped in with six digs, two kills, two assists, and two block assists.

Augusta State was led by senior Jessica Howard (Athens, Ga.), who posted 10 kills and four solo blocks. Sophomore Jessica Hanson (McKinney, Texas) notched five kills and four service aces. Sophomore Ashley Zappitell (Detroit, Mich.) tallied 25 assists.