Mont Alto, Pa. - On Saturday, October 29, 2016, your Penn State Greater Allegheny Lady Lions headed to Penn State Mont Alto in the quarter-final round of the women's volleyball Penn State University Athletic Conference playoffs.
PSU Greater Allegheny put up a great fight against PSU Mont Alto during the three-set match. There were long rallies, diving bodies, and a flood of aggressive plays. The Lady Lions dropped the match to Mont Alto in three sets but not without a fierce fight.
Senior right-side hitter Emily Taylor (Aliquippa, Pa./Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter) was a crucial player on the court during this playoff game. Taylor ended the fight against Mont Alto with eight kills, a service ace, a block assist, and a total of 14 digs. Sophomore setter Courtney Shadd (Hanover Park, Ill./Bartlett) was working hard in the back row and accumulated 12 digs along with 18 assists. Freshman middle hitter Marina Selmi (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Colegio Objectivo) earned herself a .250 hitting percentage and was a force in the front row while blocking. Junior outside hitter Laura Vazquez Diaz (San Juan, Puerto Rico/Cupey Maria Montessori) contributed 28 total attempts at the net while working hard on defense, as she tallied 13 digs. Freshman libero Hayley Maksin (Port Vue, Pa./South Allegheny) earned 15 digs in company with freshman outside hitter Dorina Adou (Kyoto, Japan/Obama Academy), who posted 12 digs and 14 total attempts at the net. Sophomore middle hitter Andrea Burroughs (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle) earned a .500 hitting percentage, a solo block, and a block assist, establishing her strong presence in the front row.
The Lady Lions finished their 2016-17 season with an overall record of 9-11, and a PSUAC conference record of 8-8. Vazquez-Diaz is ranked fourth place in the PSUAC with total attacks at 416 and 7th in total digs. Selmi currently holds the fifth place in the conference for blocks per set. Selmi earned 24 total solo blocks and 17 black assists throughout her season. Shadd retains fifth place in the conference in assists with 317 as Taylor occupies fourth place in the conference for block assists.
Penn State Greater Allegheny finished their season ranking in the top half of the PSUAC in numerous statistical categories. Their ability to play defense landed them fifth in the conference in digs with 413, third in the conference in block assists (83 total), fifth with 95 total blocks. Their passing ability led them to place sixth in the PSUAC in both total attack attempts with 1,637 and sixth in assists with 413 total - 369 awarded to setter, Courtney Shadd.
We are very proud of the women's volleyball team for improving their record this year and reaching playoffs. Thank you to all the seniors and 2+2 student-athletes for improving this program. We wish you a bright future.
Great job ladies!
By: Gianmarco Concepcion
