ADRIAN, Mich. – The Albion College volleyball team is off to its best start in seven years after turning back the College of Mount Saint Joseph in four sets and Manchester University in three sets on the opening day of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association/Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Challenge.

Albion won its first three matches of the 2008 campaign. The Britons will have an opportunity to match – and exceed – that mark Saturday afternoon with matches against Anderson University and Earlham College.

Albion dropped the first set to Mount Saint Joseph, 25-16, but the Britons rallied to take the next three sets by scores of 25-21, 25-20, 25-15. Halle Thom, one of the two seniors on the roster, led the comeback with 11 kills. Newcomers Taylor Rosenthal and Monica Shuk chipped in with seven kills and 21 digs, respectively.

The leadership from Thom and fellow seniors Kristin Yeager and the production of the newcomers made an impression on Coach Kristin Slamer-de St. Aubin.

"Our seniors set the stage for us to finish tight sets and we had first-year step up in a huge way," de St. Aubin said.

Thom produced 10 kills and 14 digs in Albion's 25-20, 25-17, 25-22 victory over Manchester. Rosenthal and Lauren Outwater added eight kills apiece and Stephanie Thurner collected seven kills and two blocks. Milligan dished out 23 assists.

While the Britons won seven of eight sets Friday, de St. Aubin said she was pleased with her team kept opponents from mounting long scoring runs.

"We played extremely consistent, eliminated chances for our opponents to get runs, and played as a team to pull out of tough situations," de St. Aubin added. "Both teams we played challenged us and we responded with confidence."