Lions Sweep Penn College 3-0
ALTOONA, Pa. – Penn State Altoona women's volleyball earned its third straight home win on Monday night, when the Lions cruised past non-conference opponent Penn College 3-0 in the Adler Arena.
Penn State Altoona (12-4) handled Penn College (1-14) in straight sets, winning by scores of 25-13, 25-17, and 25-15.
Taylor Myers (Morrisdale, PA/West Branch) led all players in the match in points and kills, recording 9.0 points on nine kills while also finishing with nine digs. Makenna Bauer (Tyrone, PA/Tyrone) had 8.0 points on seven kills and a service ace, and Lydia Mock (Alum Bank, PA/Chestnut Ridge) totaled 7.0 points on seven kills while adding four digs.
Lacee Barnhart (Bellefonte, PA/Bald Eagle) finished with six kills, eight digs, and one block assist. Karlie Feathers (Bellwood, PA/Bellwood-Antis) notched four kills, three digs, and an ace, and Makenna Port (Bellefonte, PA/Bellefonte) also had four kills while recording one solo block.
Taylor Kilmer (Julian, PA/Bald Eagle) recorded three kills and one solo block, Grace Shelley (York, PA/York Catholic) posted three kills and one block assist, and Alexis Cannistraci (Tyrone, PA/Tyrone) had one kill and one solo block.
Kayla Moran (Boalsburg, PA/State College) put up a match-high 31 assists while also leading Penn State Altoona in digs with 10 and in service aces with three, and she chipped in two kills. Abigail Brinker (Lock Haven, PA/PHAA) contributed six assists.
Erin Lutz (State College, PA/State College) totaled nine digs and added a pair of assists and one kill. Anna Batrus (Altoona, PA/Altoona) also had nine digs, while Allie Godwin (Pittsburgh, PA/West Allegheny) finished with three digs and Kristen Onder (Clarence, PA/Bald Eagle) had three digs and one ace. Michele Imler (Imler, PA/Claysburg-Kimmel had one ace, and Alison Abrashoff (Dillsburg, PA/Northern York) posted one dig.
Penn State Altoona sailed through the first set, during which the Lions hit .316 as a team and got 18 of their 25 points on kills. The home team opened up a 6-0 lead in the set, and Barnhart and Shelley's block midway through helped the Lions to an 11-point lead, 16-5. Leading 23-13, Bauer's ace and Mock's kill finished off Penn College in the first set.
The Lions established a 13-4 lead to start the second set, including a 7-0 run that included two kills apiece from Barnhart and Kilmer, one solo block by Kilmer, and a kill from Mock. Penn College came back to cut its deficit to one point, 14-13, but the Lions outscored the Wildcats 11-4 the rest of the way.
Penn State Altoona prevailed by a comfortable margin again in the third set. With the score tied 10-10, the Lions used a 6-0 run to claim the lead, getting kills from Feathers and Myers, an ace from Moran, and a solo block from Cannistraci during that stretch. A Myers kill and Onder ace helped Penn State Altoona to a 10-point advantage, 23-13, and another Myers kill and an ace from Imler provided the final two points of the set.
Penn State Altoona women's volleyball continues its regular season-ending homestand tomorrow, Tuesday, October 26, when the Lions will host nearby Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference rival Mount Aloysius College for a 7:00 p.m. match in the Adler Arena.
The night will also be marked by a birthday celebration for the AMCC, which is recognizing its 25th anniversary throughout the 2021-22 season. Tomorrow's event, sponsored by Penn State Altoona's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and the Blue and White Society, will include balloon sculptures, a student section, giveaways and prizes, and cupcakes to a limited number of fans.
