ALLIANCE, Ohio--Mount Union College's volleyball team opened the 2008 season with a pair of 3-0 shutouts against  La Roche (Pa.) College (25-12, 25-15, 25-13) and Case Western Reserve University (25-19, 25-16, 25-22) Friday at the Mount Union Volleyball Invitational in Alliance, Ohio. Click the link above for complete tournament information.

Against La Roche (0-2), senior outside hitter Melissa Mahnke (North Royalton/North Royalton) led the Raiders with seven kills and four service aces.  Freshman setter Julie Radigan (Olmsted Falls/Olmsted Falls) had 16 assists, while sophomores Sarah Dean (Strongsville/Walsh Jesuit) and Clare Kmieck (Lakewood/Lakewood) each posted eight digs.

Mahnke paced the Raiders again against Case Western Reserve (1-1) with 21 kills, as Radigan helped on most of those with a team-best 41 assists, while Dean had 17 digs.

Mount Union (2-0) starts the second day of the tournament against Aurora (Ill.) University at 10 a.m. Saturday.