HANCOCK, Mich. – The MSOE women's volleyball team continued its tremendous run to start the 2015 season with a pair of three-set sweeps over Northland and host Finlandia on the first day of the Finlandia Invitational.

The Raiders (8-1) opened the day by downing the Lumberjills 25-13, 25-17, 25-15, then came back to shut down the host Lions for the first two sets 25-11, 25-10, before edging out a third-set win, 25-23.

Freshman Hannah Pekarek and junior Rachel Lynde led the attack on the day, as each player racked up nine kills and 10 digs in the opener vs. NC. Sophomore Abby Born added 26 assists and junior Sarabeth Haworth totaled 14 digs and three service aces.

In the opening set, the score was tied at 10-10 before the Red & White closed the frame on a 15-3 run, including the final five points for the win. The Raiders then jumped out to leads of 7-1 and 21-8 on their way to a 2-0 lead in the match. They then used a 6-0 run midway through the decisive set to pull away and closed out the match on a 7-2 run for the sweep.

Pekarek then posted a double-double of 11 kills and 11 digs against Finlandia, as MSOE just overpowered the tournament hosts. Lynde added 10 kills, but the team's defensive efforts were the story as the Lions hit just -.094 for the match, the second in three outings that the Red & White has held an opponent to negative hitting.

Runs of 8-0 and 6-0 late in the first set gave the MSOE the early advantage in the match, one which carried over into the second frame when it jumped out to an 11-3 lead and scored the final eight points to close it out. FU fought back in the third set, which was tied at 23-23. The Raiders then closed out the home team with a Pekarek kill and Lynde service ace.

The Red & White is off to the best start in school history and has swept three-straight opponents since suffering its first loss of the season last Saturday.

The Raiders finish up the Finlandia Invitational Saturday, taking on Rockford at 9 a.m. and UW-Superior at 1:30 p.m.