McKeesport, Pa. – The Penn State Greater Allegheny Volleyball Team (8-8, 6-5) is looking to keep their momentum going on Wednesday when they go on the road to face off against #15 Penn State Fayette (14-6, 8-3) at 7 p.m.
PSUGA has been on a roll as of late winning each of their last six contests including four big Penn State University Athletic Conference wins over the weekend. It started on Saturday when they beat PSU-Hazleton and PSU-Lehigh Valley and transitioned to Sunday when they beat PSU-Worthington Scranton and PSU-Lehigh Valley.
Offense and communication were the keys for PSUGA in those four weekend matchups. Laura Vazquez Diaz (San Juan, Puerto Rico/Cupey Maria Montessori) led one of the best offensive attacks from the team all season. Combined between the four matches, she picked up 27 kills in 61 total attack opportunities. Hayley Maksin (Port Vue, Pa./South Allegheny) also came through big on the offensive side collecting 21 kills on 51 total attacks between the four matchups.
Communication has been another big factor to their recent success. The ladies have been able to communicate effectively on the field so that everyone is on the same page and knows what’s going on. Vazquez Diaz explains that communication is key and that she is glad her team is starting to talk more on the court.
“The key is communication,” said Vazquez Diaz. “We have been talking it up every single day trying to communicate and call out every single thing that is happening on the court. Our coaches are always communicating to us what spots are open on the court and we are listening to them.”
PSUGA will look to keep these two things consistent as they go up against a tough PSUAC foe in the form of #15 ranked Penn State Fayette on Wednesday. PSU-Fayette has won their last four contests including each of their last 12 sets.
They were able to handle PSU-Lehigh Valley fairly easily last time out collecting the 3-0 clean sweep. They were led by sophomore Siteri Tale who collected 11 kills in 20 total attack opportunities in the match-up. Kyonte Martin added eight kills in 12 total attacks aiding in the victory.
Each of PSU-Fayette’s 14 victories this season have come via the clean sweep. When they drop a set they are 0-6 this season compared to 14-0 when they don’t drop a set. If PSUGA can take a set from PSU-Fayette they could have a chance to put them away and try and win their seventh contest in a row.
The overall series between these two teams has been very one-sided as Penn State Fayette is a perfect 14-0 against Penn State Greater Allegheny going all the way back to the 2011/2012 season. PSUGA has never even taken a set from PSU-Fayette getting swept in all 14 of those match-ups.
The match is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. as PSUGA searches for its seventh win in a row and its first ever victory against PSU-Fayette.
