For the first time since 2006, the Stony Brook women’s volleyball team started its season with three straight victories.

To kick off their 2024 campaign, the Seawolves (3-0) traveled to Virginia to take part in the James Madison University Invitational. In 3-2 fashion every step of the way, Stony Brook defeated the Delaware State Hornets (0-3) and the Presbyterian Blue Hose (1-1) on Friday before outlasting the hosts — the James Madison Dukes (1-1) — on Saturday.

The Seawolves jumped out to an early lead in its debut match against Delaware State. Although it struggled to create separation, they clung to a small advantage for most of the first set. However, a 7-2 run by Stony Brook after two consecutive points by the Hornets cut the deficit to 18-16 put the set (25-18) away. The spree — which saw outside hitter Kali Moore register two kills — was punctuated by a kill from rookie outside hitter Quinn Anderson.

The second set also featured back-and-forth action. With the set tied at 21 apiece, the Seawolves ripped off three straight points to give themselves three tries to close it out. However, Delaware State converted six of the next seven points to win 27-25 and tie things up at one set each.

In the following set, Stony Brook was on the right side of a comeback. After it went down 8-1 early, the Seawolves slowly climbed back up and tied it at 18 apiece. After a service error by libero Zayda Fuertez gave the Hornets the lead right back, the Seawolves took seven of the next eight points to win the set 25-20.

Continuing with the theme of the game, the fourth set was also tight. Five lead changes culminated in a 25-23 Delaware State victory to set up a fifth and final set.

Delaware State did itself no favors in the deciding set, as it handed Stony Brook an instant 7-1 advantage from seven errors. The Hornets were not able to recover, as a well-rounded attack by the Seawolves — which featured kills from Moore, Anderson, outside hitter Leoni Kunz and middle blocker Abby Campbell — helped them to a 15-5 win.

Later on Friday, Stony Brook used a 14-5 run to close out the first set (25-16) against Presbyterian after the sides were deadlocked at 11 each.

However, the Blue Hose flipped the script in the second set, as they opened up a 21-9 lead and ultimately sealed a 25-14 set win after a pair of Seawolves’ errors down the stretch.

After two consecutive convincing sets, the third and fourth sets were closer. Stony Brook took the third set 25-19 before Presbyterian responded with a 25-23 victory to set up another winner-take-all affair.

Once again, the Seawolves found success early in a fifth set, as they stormed out to a 11-1 advantage. Though the Blue Hose made things interesting by winning seven of the next 10 points, Moore sealed the deal with her 23rd kill of the match to give Stony Brook a 15-8 win.

“Starting off the season competing in back-to-back five-set matches is incredibly tough,” head coach Kristin Belzung said in a postgame interview with Stony Brook Athletics. “I thought we fought to adapt throughout both matches and am proud of our fight. To have so many people step up and contribute is something that will be a strength of ours this season.”

Against James Madison — their toughest test on paper — on Saturday, the Seawolves found themselves in an early deficit in the opening set. Stony Brook went down 3-0 and never found a groove, as it eventually dropped the first set 25-12.

In a closer second set, nine kills from Moore helped the Seawolves even things up with a 25-21 victory.

However, Stony Brook could not build on its momentum, as, in the third set, the Dukes closed it out by converting eight of the last 12 points to win 25-20.

The match’s fourth set looked to be the decider as James Madison led 23-19. However, the Seawolves scored five unanswered points to go up 24-23. With a chance to close out the set, Fuertez delivered a service ace to give the team a 25-23 set victory.

After losing the fifth set’s first two points, Stony Brook bounced back by taking the next three. After the teams split the next four points, another three unanswered points by the Seawolves gave them a 8-5 advantage. They never relinquished the lead and won the set 15-9.

“The fight in our group this weekend was incredible,” Belzung said in a postgame interview with Stony Brook Athletics. “Today was a cat and mouse match and we made adjustments throughout both offensively and defensively. I’m so proud of our team for competing throughout and taking care of each other.”

Stony Brook posted a .224 hitting percentage as a team. Conversely, its opponents posted a .169 clip.

Moore spearheaded the Seawolves’ attack with 66.0 points and 59 kills. Kunz registered 47.5 points and 44 kills while Anderson put up 38.5 points and 34 kills.

Setter Torri Henry facilitated the offense with 139 assists. She also contributed defensively with 62 digs. Libero Julia Patsos led Stony Brook in that category with 67 digs.

The Seawolves will participate next in the Ellis Rowland Memorial Tournament in Hamilton, N.Y. On Friday, they will play the Buffalo Bulls (2-0) at 4 p.m. The next day, Stony Brook will take on the Connecticut Huskies (2-0) at 2 p.m. To close out the weekend, it will challenge the Colgate Raiders (0-2) at 2 p.m. on Sunday.