Lady Lions Stung by Hornets in Home Opener
ALTOONA, Pa. - Penn State Altoona women's volleyball christened the brand new Adler Arena on Tuesday evening, losing 3-1 in a non-conference matchup with Shenandoah University.
The match marked the first varsity athletics event held in the Adler Arena, one of the centerpieces of the multi-million dollar Adler Athletic Complex Expansion and Renovation Project.
Shenandoah (2-3) won the opening set 25-21, but Penn State Altoona (2-3) battled back to claim the second set by a score of 25-19. But the Hornets took the third set 25-19, then won the fourth set 25-16 to secure the match victory.
Lauren Diller (Chambersburg, PA/Chambersburg) led the Lady Lions and all players in the match with a career-high 19 kills to go along with four total blocks (one solo block, three block assists) and nine digs. Kelsey Bristol (Troy, PA/Troy) added 12 kills while leading her team with 27 digs and three service aces. Josie Stovall (Palmyra, PA/Palmyra) also had 12 kills, and Casey Lee (Ebensburg, PA/Penn Cambria) tied for the team-high in blocks with four (one solo block, three block assists).
Lauren Moran (Johnstown, PA/Westmont Hilltop) posted a match-high 42 set assists to go along with 16 digs. Emily Bryan (Waynesboro, PA/Waynesboro) added 13 digs, Geordan Hay (Berlin, PA/Berlin Brothersvalley) had 12 digs, and Nicole Kiser (Altoona, PA/Bishop Guilfoyle) contributed 11 digs.
In the first set, Penn State Altoona held a 16-15 lead after three straight kills from Diller, Lee, and Velanna Skripek (Moshannon, PA/Bald Eagle). But Shenandoah responded by going on a six-point run that included three consecutive kills and a pair of service aces by Emily Fisher. The Hornets went on to win the set by four points.
The Lady Lions overcame a deficit midway through the second set, en route to winning the set and evening the match score. Trailing 15-14, Penn State Altoona used a solo block by Lee, a service ace from Bryan, and a kill by Stovall to jump ahead 17-15. Later, kills from Diller, Skripek, and Lee -- along with a combo block by Lee and Diller -- put the finishing touches on the set in favor of Penn State Altoona.
In the third set, Shenandoah jumped out to an 18-9 lead, helped by an eight-point run early in the game. The Hornets held a comfortable lead throughout that set and won it by six points.
Shenandoah used a similar formula to win the fourth set and take the match. A five-point run midway through the set gave the Hornets a 16-7 lead, and the visitors won it by nine points.
Next up for Penn State Altoona women's volleyball, the team travels to Lancaster, Pa. to take part in the Franklin & Marshall College Scramble on Friday, September 8 and Saturday, September 9. The Lady Lions will play three matches during the weekend, starting with facing York College on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
