ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The Salisbury University volleyball team has jumped out to its best start in program history at 8-0, as it continued its strong play in the Buttermaker Tournament at Muhlenberg College on Saturday by defeating Muhlenberg, 3-0 (25-21, 25-10, 25-21), and Gallaudet University, 3-0 (25-17, 26-24, 25-17), to be named the tournament champions after winning all four of its matches over the weekend.

Juniors, Michelle Meehan and Nikki Binetti, were named to the All-Tournament team for their efforts over the weekend.

Salisbury 3, Muhlenberg 0

The Sea Gulls opened the day with a three-set sweep of the tournament host Mules.

The teams played a close first set, with Salisbury unable to build a lead larger than two points until a 7-1 SU run, with the score tied, 13-13, put the Gulls up, 20-14. The run included two kills by freshman Katie Stouffer; she led the team with 12 kills in the match.

Muhlenberg would go on a run to cut the Salisbury lead to 23-20, but a kill, followed by a service ace, by junior Mattie Smith would put the first set away for the Sea Gulls.

The Gulls would jump out to an early lead in the second set with a 6-1 run, with the help of two kills from junior Julie Poston and two Mule attack errors. The run would set up a strong game for Salisbury, as the team went on a 15-4 run to end the game and take a 2-0 lead.

Smith and Poston would register 11 and seven kills, respectively, in the match, finishing second and tied for third on the team.

The third set was another close one, as the Gulls largest lead was the four points that separated the teams in the final score.

Muhlenberg was able to gain the lead late, 18-17, but an attack error by the Mules' Sarah Weyhmuller and a kill by junior Kirby Buttry put Salisbury back on top. Buttry and Stouffer both had two kills in the final six points for SU to earn the victory.

Sophomore Kacey Franz led the team with 37 assists, while senior Jess Tallant totaled 11 digs and Meehan registered 10.

Salisbury 3, Gallaudet 0

Salisbury followed up its first win with another 3-0 sweep over the Bison.

Stouffer led the way for the Sea Gulls, again, with 12 kills, and Poston followed with nine and a .400 hitting percentage.

Meehan set a new career high in the match, leading the team with 26 digs, besting her previous high of 24, and Franz totaled 30 assists to lead the Gulls.

The Gulls will be in action again on the road, as they travel to Johns Hopkins University on Tuesday; the match is set for 7 p.m.

For more information on the Buttermaker Tournament, click here