In the opening match of this Saturday's Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) tri-match, the hosting Mount Ida College women's volleyball team dropped a 3-1 loss to visiting St. Joseph's College (ME) by scores of 28-26, 27-25, 25-23, and 25-14 in Newton, Massachusetts.

The Mustangs, who haven't played a match since last weekend when the went 3-1 in the UMASS-Dartmouth Invitational, fall to an overall record of 4-5 and drop their first conference bid of the season (0-1).  The Monks improve to 5-2 for 2011 and snatch their first conference victory of the season (1-0).

The first three sets of the match were very close with no more than four points separating the teams.  Mount Ida captured game one of the match in a very tight set winning 28-26.  The visitors came roaring back taking the next three games by scores of 27-25, 25-23, and 25-14 for the 3-1 GNAC win.

The Mustangs were led offensively by senior captain and outside hitter Rachelle Gilbert (Corunna, IN/Dekalb) who registered 13 kills.  Her most impressive stat of the day was in the back row recording 46 digs for the contest, five shy of the school record.  Gilbert also added three service aces. 

Mount Ida sophomore middle Abbey Fedigan (New Fairfield, CT/New Fairfield) was strong in front of the net adding four blocks while senior setter and captain Cody Fusco (San Francisco, CA/San Francisco Waldorf) dished out 16 assists. 

For the visitors, the Monks were led offensively by junior hitter Sarah Hawkes (Pownal, ME/Freeport) tallied a game high 18 kills along with seven blocks.  Junior setter Kiah Begley (Berwick, ME/St. Thomas Aquinas) dished out 35 along with a solid day in the back row with 25 digs.  Sophomore libero Erica Russi (Debary, FL/Deltona) and sophomore Kristin Palladino (Exeter, NH/Exeter) chipped in three service aces a piece.