BOSTON, MASS. – Senior outside hitter Ivana Batur (Zagreb, Croatia) helped lead Norwich University in its opening weekend of Great Northeast Athletic Conference play Sept. 10.

Batur powered 23 kills and a .422 attack percentage at the host Rams of Suffolk College and the Simmons College Sharks. Due in large part to those numbers, the Maroon and Gold were able to best Suffolk in three games and battle Simmons in a five-game loss.

Freshman outside hitter Alex Palmer (South Windsor, Conn.) chipped in 14 kills and 31 digs. Fellow freshman Kassandra Jermyn (Auburn, Mass.) added 54 assists and seven service aces.

"I was very pleased with the way our freshmen stepped in," Coach Amanda Cuiffo said. "We had some starters out with injuries, but the young players did a great job."

Norwich (4-3, 1-1 GNAC) resumes its 2011 schedule with three matches next week. Cuiffo's crew has a clash at Middlebury Wednesday, Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. The Cadets go to Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, Conn., to take on the Falcons and Mitchell College. Matches are at 1 and 3 p.m.