SWARTHMORE, Pa.– In the opening game of a weekend tournament at Swarthmore College, Eastern University Women's Volleyball topped the Neumann University Knights in three sets. The win was the 700th career win for Eastern University Head Coach Mark Birtwistle.

Birtwistle, who is fourth in wins amongst active Division III coaches, picked up the milestone win in the same gym where he won his first match as a 22-year old head coach in 1990. He is one win behind Emory Head Coach Jen McDowell who picked up her 700th last night and a win ahead of University of New England Coach Karol L'Heureux who won her 699th match this evening.

"I've had a lot of good players," Birtwistle said after his players brought out balloons and a cake for the occasion. "It is cool to win it here. I lost the first match I coached, but we won the second one. They have fixed this place up, but it is still the same building." Since 1994, the Eagles have won 20 or more matches 22 times and 30 or more matches 12 times. The Eagles have played in 17 of the last 18 NCAA Tournaments.

The Eagles controlled the play in the early going. They hit .361 with only three errors to claim the opening set 25-12. The Knights used scrappy defense to close the gap in the second set. The Eagles trailed late, but rallied to claim the set 25-23. Ally Spillane, who finished with a team-high 14 kills, delivered the final kill to close out the set.

The Eagles trailed early in the third set as well, but Morgan Kline (44 assists) was able to get her middle hitters involved and the Eagles claimed the final set, 25-20. Eastern hit .250 in the final set. Michelle Paulsen finished with nine kills and four blocks, and Sarah Roberts had eight kills and a pair of blocks. Caroline Shelby had ten kills.

Miranda Kauffman led the Eastern defense with 15 digs.

The Eagles (13-8) will complete the Swarthmore Invitational tomorrow with a matches against Catholic at noon and Swarthmore at 4:00 PM.