Gettysburg, PA – Junior HAYLEY MERRILL recorded 18 kills in two matches helping Montclair State to a pair of victories in the Battlefield Classic at Gettysburg College on Friday.

The Red Hawks swept past Johns Hopkins and Penn State Altoona in straight sets for the 2-0 start. It is the third straight season that MSU has opened the year with consecutive victories and the eighth time in its 26 seasons.

Merrill registered a double-double of 12 kills and 12 digs as Montclair State rolled past Johns Hopkins (0-1) by set scores of 25-13, 25-18, 25-15. Senior MELISSA TERPSTRA added seven kills along with a pair of aces while sophomore NATALIA MAJKUT recorded five kills and three blocks. Sophomore ASHLEY GRIFFITH posted 25 assists while DANIELLE OLCESE and LILY SCANZILLO had 12 and 13 digs respectively.

Sophomore MADISON MAUTE had eight kills in the win over Altoona. Senior REBECCA MATASKER put down seven kill attempts in the 25-18, 25-20, 25-16 victory. Merrill went for six kills and 10 digs while Griffith had 29 assists and nine digs. Olcese led MSU with 19 digs with Scanzillo reaching double digits with 10.

Montclair continues action in the Battlefield Classic on Saturday, September 3 against Messiah College and McDaniel College at 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm, respectively.