Harford, Conn. – Sophomore MH Kate Giddens (Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.) totaled 33 kills with a .417 hitting percentage, seven aces, and five blocks to lead the Trinity College Bantams to a 2-0 start after the first day of the Trinity College Volleyball Invitational Tournament this evening at Oosting Gymnasium.  Trinity improves to 4-2 with a 3-0 win against the Sage College Gators and a 3-1 triumph over the Clark University Cougars.  Western Connecticut, Eastern Connecticut, and Colby-Sawyer won their only matches of the evening, while Sage went 1-1, Wesleyan, Worcester State, and Bridgewater State went 0-1, and Clark lost twice.  All nine teams will continue tournament action tomorrow at both Trinity at Wesleyan.

Giddens went for 13 kills and three errors against Sage and 20 kills with just five errors to go with five aces and three block solos against Clark.  Trinity first-year S Randi Whitman (South Weymouth, Mass.) added 19 assists and 11 digs, while senior tri-captain OH Hannah Brickley (Melrose, Mass.) had nine kills and 11 digs, and sophomore MH Katie Stueber (Darien, Conn.) notched four blocks against Sage.  Whitman and senior tri-captain S Amy Hackett (Wallingford, Conn.) combined for 51 assists and 22 digs in the Clark match, while Brickley recorded 18 kills and 11 digs, and rookie L Kristen Cooprider (Hopkinton, Mass.) amassed 23 digs.

Sage junior Helen Putriment had 19 attacks, five kills, 15 digs, and an ace in the Trinity match and added 10 kills in a 3-0 win over Bridgewater State.  Junior Nina Wojtkiewicz compiled 10 kills and 16 digs, while junior Jenny Hogan had 50 assists and six digs; and classmate Heather Williams had eight kills and 20 blocks for Western Connecticut in a 3-0 win over Clark.  Danielle Dean added nine kills for Bridgewater State in the loss to Sage.  Emilee McBride and Jackie Keating had 10 kills apiece for Colby-Sawyer in a 3-0 win over Worcester State, while Amanda Lewis totaled 18 assists for the Lancers in a losing effort.  AdriannaMihalek had 16 kills and 12 digs for Eastern Connecticut in a 3-0 win over Wesleyan.  Kim Farris added eight kills and three blocks for the Cardinals.

TOURNAMENT MATCH RESULTS
Colby-Sawyer 3, Worcester State 0 at Wesleyan (25-17, 25-23, 25-9)
Eastern Connecticut 3, Wesleyan 0 at Wesleyan (25-16, 25-21, 25-22)
Trinity (Conn.) 3, Sage 0 (25-21, 25-19, 25-19)
Trinity (Conn.) 3, Clark 1 (25-22, 24-26, 26-24, 25-13)
Western Connecticut 3, Clark 0 (25-21, 25-19, 25-14)
Sage 3, Bridgewater State 0 (25-22, 30-28, 25-21