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GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UMass Lowell Volleyball team split its final two matches of the Spartan-Demon Deacon Classic on Saturday afternoon at Fleming Gymnasium on the campus of UNC-Greensboro.

The River Hawks defeated Morgan State, 3-1 (18-25, 25-14, 25-12, 25-23) in the late match, after a 3-1 (25-19, 27-29, 21-25, 15-25) loss to Wake Forest in the first match of the day. UMass Lowell owns 1-2 record overall on the season, while Morgan State drops to 0-3 and Wake Forest improved to 2-0.

"It's a great way to finish a tournament, this morning they started off the match on a very high note, but weren't able to finish," said Head Coach Resa Provanzano. "So we talked about this match, let's play from beginning to end and let's finish and that's what their focus was and they did a great job."

In the match vs. Morgan State, sophomore outside hitter Katherine Claybaugh (Danville, Calif.) finished night with a match-high 16 kills, to go along with a .400 hitting percentage to lead the River Hawks offense. Claybaugh posted five kills with a .364 hitting percentage in the decisive fourth set. Junior outside hitter Haley Shimon (Des Moines, Iowa) also had a solid match with 11 kills and a .409 hitting percentage in the first victory of the season for UMass Lowell. Shimon has the set-clinching kill to end set three.

Freshman middle blocker Ariel Dulaney (Bay Minette, Ala.) recorded nine kills with a .500 hitting percentage in the first start of her collegiate career. Junior setter Delaney Mendez (Phoenix, Ariz.) tallied 40 assists running the offense, while junior co-captain Lindsey Visvardis (Homer Glen, Ill.) recorded a match-high 17 digs.

Freshman right side hitter Morgan Given (Orlando, Fla.) made her collegiate debut for the River Hawks in the Morgan State match.

The River Hawks notched 15 kills in each the second and third sets, hitting at a .324 clip in the second and .565 hitting percentage in the third.

Shimon was named to the Spartan-Demon Deacon Classic All-Tournament Team for her efforts in three matches over the weekend with 23 kills and a .233 hitting percentage.

In the loss against Wake Forest, sophomore outside hitter Madi Bell (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) registered 14 kills, a .344 hitting percentage and five total blocks. Claybaugh managed 11 kills and nine digs in the losing effort. Shimon chipped in with seven kills, while Mendez recorded 36 assists quarterbacking the River Hawk offense. Visvardis posted 13 digs in another strong defensive performance.

The River Hawks return to action on Friday, September 1^st at the St. Francis Brooklyn Tournament with a 3 p.m. match against Maryland-Eastern Shore at the Genovesi Center.