ASTON, Pa. – The Salisbury University volleyball team began the Knights Invitational at Neumann University on Friday night, splitting its two opening matches. The Sea Gulls first fell to Lebanon Valley College, before defeating Neumann.

Lebanon Valley 3, Salisbury 1 (21-25, 25-22, 25-20, 25-20)

The Sea Gulls kicked off the night against the Dutchmen, taking the first set, before dropping the final three.

Junior Katie Stouffer continued to put her name in the Salisbury record books, leading the team with 26 kills in the match. The total tied her for eighth all time in program history for kills in a single match.

The team was led on defense by freshmen Kelly Surkovich with 19 digs, while sophomore Alexis Howatt paced the Gulls with 35 assists.

Freshman Nicole Venturelli also tallied double-digit kills in the contest, hitting 11.

Salisbury 3, Neumann 0 (25-23, 25-12, 25-18)

Again led by Stouffer, the Sea Gulls closed the first day of the weekend tournament with a three-set sweep of the Knights. She put down 15 kills for the Gulls, registering the only double-digit total for the squad in the match.

Sophomore Sydney Davis finished second with eight kills, while Venturelli tallied seven.

Surkovich and senior Kacey Franz paced the back line with 14 and 12 digs, respectively, and sophomore Rachel Pierson handled the setting duties with 32 assists.

Salisbury continues the Knights Invitational on Saturday at 12 p.m., taking on Swarthmore College, before taking on an opponent to be determined later in the afternoon.