(Clinton, N.Y.)- SUNY Canton kicked off their 2011 women's volleyball campaign with two hard-fought matches in the opening round of the Hamilton College Invitational in Clinton, N.Y.

The Roos came out swinging in their first match against Southern Vermont College capturing the opening game 25-20.  The Mountaineers shook off the opening game loss and won the next three games to post a 3-1 win.

A trio of freshmen turned in impressive performances in SUNY Canton's first contests since re-instating the program this past year.   Mackenzie Mynter (Churchville, N.Y.) distributed 19 assists and nailed four aces.  Jessica Reynolds (Oakville, Ontario) banged down nine kills and Belleville-Henderson graduate Caitlin Grimshaw (Adams, N.Y.) added three blocks from her middle hitter position.

The Roos rallied from a 2-1 deficit in their second match against SUNY Plattsburgh to force a game five as the first four games were decided by three points or less.  The Roos won game two 26-24 and game four 25-23 and fell 15-10 in the deciding set.

“We really came out swinging against Southern Vermont and played great against Plattsburgh,” said first –year head coach Carol LaMarche.  “It was terrific to take Plattsburgh to five games and I think our girls just got a little tired at the end.”

Mynter turned in another stellar performance with 27 assists and eight kills.  Grimshaw nailed 12 kills and Reynolds had nine.  Junior co-captain Abbey Shoen (Waddington, N.Y.) and freshman Amanda Brown (Massena, N.Y.) each contributed seven kills and Brown added two blocks.

“Overall I was very pleased with the way we played today,” added LaMarche.

The Roos will battle The Sage Colleges on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. in the second round and then face Hamilton at 12:30 p.m.