ALBANY, N.Y. (Oct. 22, 2016) - Sophomore outside hitter Rachel Londot (Utica, Ohio) had a combined 26 kills and a stellar .426 hitting percentage Saturday to send the LIU Post volleyball team to a pair of victories at the College of Saint Rose Tri-Match at Daniel P. Nolan Gymnasium.

The Pioneers (9-11) first swept Southern New Hampshire University in three sets (25-22, 25-18, 25-10), before defeating Saint Rose in four games (26-28, 25-15, 26-24, 25-22) in the nightcap. The green and gold have now won six of their last seven matches and boast a 7-4 record since Sept. 25.

Match #1 - LIU Post 3, Southern New Hampshire 0 (25-22, 25-18, 25-10)
Down 10-4 in the opening set, the Pioneers came from behind with a 12-2 run to grab a 16-12 advantage. Junior outside/middle/right-side hitter Danielle Valenza (Hauppauge, N.Y.) served three aces in the rally. Londot wrapped up the burst with back-to-back kills.

From there, LIU Post built its lead to 23-16 on Valenza's third kill of the game, and eventually won the set 25-22, off a kill by sophomore setter Giulia Genna (Rome, Italy).

In the second game, the Pioneers owned a slight 6-4 edge, until a 10-3 spurt by the green and gold widened the gap to 16-7. Valenza sandwiched the run with kills. Senior middle hitter Taryn McCullouch (Buena Park, Calif.) and freshman middle/right-side hitter Lea Brady (Woodbridge, Va.) added kills, as well.

That proved to be all LIU Post needed, as the Pioneers went on to a 25-18 victory to take a 2-0 lead in the contest.

The green and gold ran away with the third set, posting a 25-10 victory. LIU Post hit at a match-high .269 clip in the game, led by a three-kill performance from freshman right-side hitter Cara Kennedy (Mineola, N.Y.).

Londot finished with a double-double (10 kills, 11 digs) in the contest. Valenza tallied eight kills, to go along with 13 digs and three blocks. Genna allocated 15 assists and slammed down four kills. Freshman libero/defensive specialist Abby Eckhardt (Westminster, Colo.) collected 15 digs and one service ace.

Match #2 - LIU Post 3, Saint Rose 1 (26-28, 25-15, 26-24, 25-22)
Despite losing the first set to the Golden Knights (9-11), the Pioneers responded with a .367 attack percentage in the second game to even the match. 

Trailing 8-7, the green and gold reeled off a 7-1 run to go in front, 14-9. Londot, Valenza and sophomore middle/right-side hitter Elise Strange (Chesapeake, Va.) each put down a kill in the streak. 

LIU Post never looked back from there, as freshman setter Kassie Akouri-Tejedor (North Miami Beach, Fla.) served the final five points, including two aces, to secure a 25-15 win.

In the third set, the Pioneers posted another strong hitting performance, as they attacked at a .306 clip in a 26-24 triumph. The game was a back-and-forth affair, but a key kill by Brady, along with a block by McCullouch and Valenza, earned the victory for the green and gold in extra points.

The fourth set saw LIU Post pull away late to close out the match. Leading 21-20, McCullouch provided two key kills down the stretch to help the Pioneers to a 25-22 win.

Four different players tallied double-digit kills in the contest for the green and gold. Londot paced all players with 16 kills on a .412 hitting percentage. Valenza had 15 kills and 12 digs for a double-double. McCullouch registered 13 kills, five digs and five blocks. Brady contributed 12 kills. Akouri-Tejedor and Genna dished out 32 and 23 assists, respectively.

Head Coach Amanda Ostapow and her LIU Post squad return to action Tuesday (Oct. 25), when they face East Coast Conference opponent Molloy College at 6 p.m. in Rockville Centre.