MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Case Western Reserve University volleyball team continued the best start in program history with a pair of sweeps on the opening night of the 2012 Allegheny College Gator Invitational on Friday evening at the David V. Wise Center. The Spartans were 3-0 winners versus host Allegheny and Frostburg State University, running their season total to nine sweeps.

The Spartans (10-1) conclude the weekend with two more matches tomorrow versus Penn State Erie, The Behrend College at 10:00 a.m. and Thiel College (Pa.) at 12:00 p.m.  

Case defeated the Gators (2-8) by scores of 25-7, 25-16 and 25-14. Sophomore middle hitter Natalie Southard (Buffalo, N.Y./City Honors School), the reigning University Athletic Association Offensive Player of the Week, led the offense with 10 kills in just 16 attempts (.562). Three other Spartans recorded five kills, including senior right side hitter Hanna Collins (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry) in just nine attempts.

One match after becoming the program's all-time leader, senior setter Breana Freeman (Geneva, Ohio/Geneva) paced the attack with 24 assists, while freshman Robyn Marks (Waterford, Mich./Waterford Mott) contributed 10.

Defensively, senior libero Rachel Gulasey (Cleveland, Ohio/Magnificat) totaled 12 digs. Freshman middle hitter Haley Kauffman (Hartville, Ohio/Lake) tallied three block assists.

Versus FSU (0-11), the Spartans won via counts of 25-9, 25-8 and 25-22. Sophomore Rachel Miller (Davis, Ill./Keith County Day) and freshman Samantha Buddemeyer (Naples, Fla./Seacrest Country Day) each posted six kills for a balanced Spartan attack.

Freeman and Marks were equal setting partners with 16 assists apiece, while Gulasey once again paced the defense with 19 digs.

Following tomorrow's matches, the Spartans return to action on Friday, September 21 with a match at The College of Wooster at 7:00 p.m.