PORTLAND, Maine – The first win of the season for the Golden Eagles came in the form in a 3-0 sweep of Saint Joseph's College of Maine.

The 25-17, 25-18, 25-18 win moved Spalding to 1-2 overall, while the Monks dropped to 1-2 on the season.

TURNING POINT

It was close from the first serve in the opening set. SU found some breathing room when a run of two Ella Clark service aces, a Kaylee Baker kill, and three St. Joseph errors gave the Golden Eagles a 12-8 lead. The Monks fought back within one twice in the frame, but Spalding pushed forward and took the set 25-17.

Set two was all Golden Eagles. The SU squad never trailed in the frame and were ahead from the 2-1 period on.

St. Joseph made things interesting in the third set. The Monks started the set on a 4-0 run and looked ready to keep the momentum going. A Jayda Branch and Abigail Ratts block stopped the SJC streak and started a 6-1 run for the Golden Eagles. After battling back and forth, SU took the lead at 9-8 and never relinquished it in the match-clinching 25-18 win.

GOLDEN EAGLE NOTES

• Coming up Aces: Spalding had 13 aces to the Monks' two.
• The Golden Eagles also led in kills (33-23), assists (32-23), and digs (54-42).
• Jayda Branch had an impressive showing with a match-high 12 kills and four aces.
• Abigail Ratts continued her block party with a total of four in the match.
• The sweep is the first win for head coach Taryn Glass who is in her first season at the helm of the program.

NEXT FOR SPALDING

Spalding returns to action on Thursday for a match at Franklin College. The match is set for a 7 p.m. start.