WILLIAMSBURG - The William and Mary volleyball team found itself in a nailbiter of a match for its season opener Friday, falling in five sets to Seton Hall on the first day of the 2010 Tribe Invitational. The Tribe moved to 0-1 on the very young season, while Seton Hall improved to 1-0.

Box Score
Photo Gallery (by Julia Martin)

One of several bright spots for the Tribe was the play of its younger members, as freshman Paulette Grand Pre (Aliso Viejo, Calif.) and sophomore Molly Krull (Raleigh, N.C.) each collected a double-double for the very first time. Grand Pre had 16 kills on a .267 attack, and added 13 digs, an ace, and two blocks. Krull's Division I career started off with 28 assists and 11 digs, while splitting time at the setter's position.

The player she was sharing time with, senior Cassie Crumal (Castle Rock, Colo.), was one of several players to come very close to a double-double, posting 18 assists and 8 digs. Classmate Erin Skipper (Yorktown, Va.) was the leading point-getter for the Tribe, providing 18 kills, eight digs, four blocks, and an ace.

Sophomore Gina Lang (Valparaiso, Ind.) had nine kills, 10 digs, and three aces in a starting role, and classmate Shaylin O'Connell (Leesburg, Va.) had a match-high seven blocks to go with four kills. Freshman Celine Alasomuka (Centreville, Va.) led the team with 13 digs, earning the start at the libero's spot.

In the first set, six kills apiece from Grand Pre and Skipper allowed the Tribe overcome an early deficit to the Pirates, and open a gap at 15-10. W&M was able to match Seton Hall almost point-for-point over the remainder of the stanza, overcoming a series of tie-scores late to pull out the 27-25 victory.

The second set saw a series of momentum swings beginning with an early Tribe run to open a slim 7-4 lead. The Pirates came back with a 4-0 jag of their own to retake the lead at 17-15, and Gina Lang served the Tribe right back into things, tying the score at 18-18. A quick service error on behalf of Seton Hall gave the College its final opening, and a block by Skipper and O'Connell sealed the deal at 25-22.

Seton won the third match by an identical score, but neither team was able to get clear in a very tight match until the very end, when the Pirates scored three kills to break open a 22-22 tie. The fourth set went the way of the Pirates as well, as they opened an early lead and were able to maintain their cushion to a 25-17 win. The fifth and final set was played extremely tight, up to a tie at 9-all. A block for Seton Hall and three of Sarah Osmun's 26 kills of the afternoon, however, opened the final gap and the Pirates took the set and the match, 15-9.

William and Mary returns to action this evening, hosting Wisconsin at 7 p.m.