ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Saint Mary's volleyball team picked up a 3-0 (25-14, 25-23, 25-16) win over host Rockford before taking a 3-0 (25-18, 25-19, 25-22) victory over Lawrence to give head coach Denise Van De Walle her 600th career win.

 

The Belles were nearly unstoppable in the opening set against the host Regents as Saint Mary's posted a collective .576 attack percentage with 19 kills and no errors on 33 attempts. The team ended the match with a strong .330 attack percentage on 43 kills with only six errors and 112 attempts. Colleen McCarthy registered her first collegiate double-double with 15 kills and 15 digs while putting down a solo block. Megan Collantes was hot on McCarthy's heels with 14 kills and a .467 attack percentage, 15 digs, and a block assist. Hannah Stacy chipped in seven kills, and Emma Watford picked up 13 digs. Claire Hennessy posted 38 assists and two service aces. Molly Pooler added two solo blocks, a block assist, and four kills on just 15 attempts.

 

The offense stayed efficient in the sweep of the Vikings as the Belles posted a .238 attack percentage while limiting Lawrence to a .127 effort. Collantes led the Belles with 16 kills and added 10 digs and a pair of block assists. McCarthy picked up her second double-double of the night with 11 kills and a match-high 13 digs. Pooler was strong in the middle for Saint Mary's with seven kills on nine attempts and two more block assists. Courtney Pelletier tallied 10 digs and two service aces, and Hennessy added 31 assists, eight digs, and a perfect four kills on four attempts.

 

The second win of the night lifted head coach Denise Van De Walle to her 600th career victory. Van De Walle brought in a staggering 527 wins from her 29-year career at Bowling Green State University. The 2021 season is her seventh season at the helm of the program for the Belles.

 

The Belles (2-1) are back in action on Saturday when they travel to Beloit for a 12:00 p.m CDT match against the Bucs.