ALTOONA, Pa. – The Penn State Altoona women's volleyball team opened its Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference schedule at home on Saturday afternoon, defeating league opponent Hilbert College 3-0 in the Adler Arena.

The Lions (4-9, 1-0 AMCC) handled Hilbert (4-14, 0-1 AMCC) by scores of 25-20, 25-18, and 25-16. Penn State Altoona compiled a season-best .245 attack percentage as a team in the win.

Lacee Barnhart (Bellefonte, PA/Bald Eagle) led all players in the match with 13 points, 13 kills, and 10 digs. Lydia Mock (Alum Bank, PA/Chestnut Ridge) totaled 11 points on 11 kills while adding eight digs.

Taylor Myers (Morrisdale, PA/West Branch) added 7.5 points on four kills, three service aces, and a block assist. Taylor Kilmer (Julian, PA/Bald Eagle) and Makenna Port (Bellefonte, PA/Bellefonte) each chipped in three kills.

Kayla Moran (Boalsburg, PA/State College) posted a match-high 30 assists and four aces while also finishing with nine digs.

Erin Lutz (State College, PA/State College) recorded seven digs. Kayla Nothstein (Palmerton, PA/Palmerton) notched a solo block, and Morgan Fussell (Blairsville, GA/Union County) tallied one block assist.

Hilbert opened the first set by jumping out to a 5-2 lead, but Penn State Altoona responded with a 5-0 run to leap in front, 7-5. Later, with the score tied 12-12, the Lions reeled off nine straight points, including four straight service aces from Moran and a trio of kills by Barnhart. The Hawks closed the gap to three, 23-20, but a kill from Mock and a Hilbert attack error provided the winning points for Penn State Altoona.

The Lions worked their way out to a 4-0 lead to start the second set, before Hilbert came back to tie the score at 7-7. Mock's kill broke the tie, followed by back-to-back kills from Port and another kill from Barnhart to give Penn State Altoona a four-point lead, 11-7. The visitors again battled back to tie the score, 15-15, before a 6-0 run from the Lions established a 21-15 advantage for the home squad. A kill by Port got Penn State Altoona to set point, 24-17, and a Hilbert hitting error gave the Lions the winning point, 25-18.

Penn State Altoona won the third set in more comfortable fashion. With the score knotted at six, the Lions embarked on an 8-2 run to go up 14-8. Myers' ace and a pair of Kilmer kills helped increase Penn State Altoona's advantage to seven, 19-12. Karlie Feathers (Bellwood, PA/Bellwood-Antis) scored an ace and Laura Albright (Osterburg, PA/Chestnut Ridge) notched a kill over the Lions' final five points, and Penn State Altoona prevailed 25-16 in the set to secure the sweep.

Penn State Altoona women's volleyball returns to non-conference play for its next match, as the Lions will travel to Chambersburg to take on Wilson College on Tuesday, October 11 at 7:00 p.m.