SOUTH BEND, IND. – A stretch of five successive matches against the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association started with a tough road trip for Manchester University Tuesday, Sept. 1.

The upperclasswoman outside hitter duo of junior Courtney Chowning (Yorktown, Ind.) and senior Sarah Pruden (Noblesville, Ind.) picked up where they left off from past seasons. Chowning powered nine kills past the St. Mary's College Belles' defense, while Pruden ended with eight. Pruden shared the individual attack percentage lead with freshman middle hitter Hannah Tevis (Royal Center, Ind.) (.167) while also adding six digs and two service aces.

Despite those numbers, SMC held the Black and Gold to a .049 team attack percentage while forging a blistering .314 of their own in a 25-14, 25-18, 25-14 sweep. The combination of Katie Hecklinski and Meaghan Gibbons proved especially strong with a combined 21 kills.

The Spartans move into the 2015 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference – MIAA Crossover Frdiay and Saturday, Sept. 4 and 5. MU takes on Olivet College and Albion at 1 and 3 p.m. Friday and Kalamazoo and the host Adrian College Bulldogs at 4 p.m. Saturday.