The University of Mary Washington volleyball team swept a 3-0 decision from Hunter College on Thursday afternoon in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Huntingdon, Pa. The game scores were 25-22, 25-12, 25-21. UMW improves to 29-4 on the season, and advances to Friday's second round agains Springfield College at 4:30 p.m.

The Eagles, despite an advantage in NCAA Tournament experience (having advanced to the third round last season), started the first game erraticly, and trailed through much of the early action. UMW was able to gain the lead at 12-11 on an attack error, and a kill from senior Jordan Lyons upped the advantage to 15-13. Hunter scored six of seven points to grab a 19-16 lead, but four straight from the Eagles gave them a 20-19 lead. UMW scored five of the final eight points to take a hard-earned win.

Conversely, in the second, the Eagles rolled, taking a 25-12 score. The Eagles hit a whopping .619 in the second, on 15 kills against two errors in 21 attempts. The Eagles claimed an early lead in the third, and held on for a close 25-21 victory to clinch the match.

Lyons led UMW with 16 kills against two errors in 26 attempts, while Senior Emma Hadley added eight kills against one error in 17 attempts. Junior Ally Fletcher posted six kills in two games. Junior Lauren Foley picked up 18 assists, and junior Brenna Campbell added 15. Lyons led wih 10 digs and junior Hannah Livermon added nine.

The Eagles will take on Springfield College on Friday at 4:30 p.m. a Juniata College. The Garnet (27-4) defeated Wentworth College, 3-0, in other first round action.