Hamilton College defeated Morrisville State College in five sets behind a fine all-around performance by Erin Donahue '18 in a non-conference match played at Morrisville's Student Activities Gymnasium on Tuesday night.

The Continentals (1-0 overall) won the first two sets easily by scores of 25-13 and 25-17. The Mustangs (4-2) barely prevailed in the third set, 26-24, before taking the fourth by a 25-21 count. Hamilton stormed back to take the deciding fifth set, 15-6.

Donahue smashed 16 kills and added 11 digs and three service aces. Giuliana Rankin '20 smacked 12 kills in her first collegiate match and Margaret O'Brien '18 chipped in eight kills and just one error in 13 attempts.

Kyndal Burdin '18 passed out 35 assists and Kendall Searcy '20 was credited with 16 digs in her collegiate debut for the Continentals. Christine Zizzi '18 enjoyed a triumphant return to the team after a year off with a team-best 19 digs and a career-high five aces.

Helena Hanes recorded a triple-double for Morrisville with 13 kills, 15 assists and 11 digs. Kimberly Dunkleman led the team with 19 assists and Samantha Wolf led all players with 28 digs.

Hamilton hit .412 in the fifth set with eight kills and just one error in 17 total attempts. The Continentals scored the first two points and led the whole set. The Mustangs were still within 7-5 but Hamilton closed out the match with an 8-1 run that included three kills by Donahue.

In the first set the Continentals held a slim 3-2 lead before they scored four straight points for a 7-2 advantage. Morrisville didn't get closer than four points the rest of the set. The score was tied at 12-12 in the second set when Hamilton went on a 4-0 run and led the rest of the way. Donahue started the spurt with a kill and an ace.

The Continentals led 11-5 early in the third set and seemed to be on their way to the sweep but the Mustangs rallied. There were nine ties in the set, including at 24-24 after a Donahue kill. Morrisville closed out the set on a kill and a Hamilton attack error.

The fourth set featured 11 ties and a .316 hitting percentage for the Mustangs (16 kills-4 errors-38 attempts). The Continentals actually held a 21-20 lead after a Donahue kill but Morrisville scored the next five points and forced a fifth set. Hanes keyed the run with a pair of kills and had the assist on the set-clinching point.

Hamilton takes on SUNY Geneseo at the University of Rochester Invitational on Friday, Sept. 9 at 6 p.m.