Women’s Volleyball Sweeps Wilson in Home Opener
ALTOONA, Pa. – The Penn State Altoona women's volleyball team notched its first win of the 2023 campaign in its home opener on Tuesday night, when the Lions sailed past non-conference opponent Wilson College in the Adler Arena.
Penn State Altoona (1-4) took care of Wilson (0-2) in straight sets by scores of 25-13, 25-10, and 25-16. The victory represented the first win as head coach of the Lions volleyball team for Jamie McGreal.
Lia Simanski (Altoona, PA/Bishop Guilfoyle) totaled a match-high eight points for Penn State Altoona with seven kills and a service ace. Karlie Feathers (Bellwood, PA/Bellwood-Antis) added seven points on four kills and three aces to go along with eight digs, while Jadeyn Price (Altoona, PA/Altoona) also had seven points on seven kills. Lacee Barnhart (Bellefonte, PA/Bald Eagle) recorded a match-high four service aces and had eight digs.
Abigail Brinker (Lock Haven, PA/PHAA) led all players in assists with 11 while chipping in six digs, while Gabriella Serra (Queens, NY/Benjamin Cardozo) and Julia Emel (Woodward, PA/Penns Valley) finished with eight and five assists, respectively.
Anna Batrus (Altoona, PA/Altoona) had a match-high 13 digs.
Penn State Altoona got off to a dominant start in the first set, working its way out to a 14-2 advantage. Wilson got the difference down to eight, 19-11, later in the set, but the Lions scored six of the next eight points – including kills from Simanski, Makenna Port (Bellefonte, PA/Bellefonte), and Taylor Myers (Morrisdale, PA/West Branch) – to close out the game.
Penn State Altoona ran up another big lead to start the second set, as kills from Price, Myers, and Feathers, as well as two Barnhart aces, helped propel the Lions to an 8-1 advantage. Feathers' ace helped extend the home team's lead to 10 points, 16-6, and another Barnhart ace later kept the difference at 10, 20-10. Penn State Altoona scored the next five points after that, finishing the second set with a 15-point margin of victory.
The Lions took care of business in the third set, pulling away from Wilson in the middle stages to win it. With the score tied 9-9, Penn State Altoona went on a 6-0 run that included a Simanski kill and Batrus ace. Later, Emel's kill got the Lions to set point, 24-16, and an attack error by Wilson clinched the victory for Penn State Altoona.
Women's volleyball returns to the road for its next games this Saturday, September 9, when the Lions will travel to Wilkes-Barre to compete in a tri-match hosted by Wilkes University. That day, Penn State Altoona will face Delaware Valley University at 1 p.m. before taking on host Wilkes at 3 p.m.
