McKeesport, PA. – The Penn State Greater Allegheny Athletics Season is upon us with all the action starting tomorrow. It will be the PSUGA Volleyball Team (0-0, 0-0) kicking things off when they head to Monaca, PA. to participate in the PSU-Beaver Tournament. Day 1 will see them go head-to head with Carlow (0-0, 0-0) at 3:30 p.m. before finishing the day facing The University of Maine at Fort Kent (0-0, 0-0) at 8 p.m.
Last season was an up and down ride for the PSUGA Volleyball team throughout. After starting the season just 2-8, the girls were able to find their groove winning six games in a row to even their record at 8-8 and finding themselves right back in the playoff picture. They would have a tough task ahead of them as they tried to make the playoffs needing to win three of their last five games to clinch a spot.
However, with three of those five games coming against Penn State University Athletic Conference powerhouses PSU-Fayette and PSU-Beaver, the task proved to be too much as the team dropped each of it’s last five games. They fought hard taking Beaver to five sets before falling and are bringing that 100% mentality into the 2018-2019 season.
This year features a strong core of nine freshman to go along with four returners as the PSUGA Volleyball team shoots for a PSUAC playoff spot in 2018. Among those returners are sophomores Kaylee Holtzman (McKeesport, PA./McKeesport HS) and Daisy Pastories (Port Vue, PA./South Allegheny HS) who each made big contributions to last season’s team.
Holtzman was one of the top offensive players finishing second on the team with 48 kills and 147 total attacks while leading the team with a .163 hitting percentage. After struggling in the beginning of the season, Holtzman found her groove during the six-game winning streak and was one of the main contributors on the offensive side of the ball for the rest of the 2017 season.
Pastories served as a defensive specialist regularly subbing in to provide help in both the serving game and the defense. In 34 sets played Pastories finished the year tied for third on the team with six service aces while collecting 24 digs. Pastories will once again look to bring help on the defensive side of the ball in 2018.
Joining Holtzman and Pastories are a very talented group of freshmen including Alix Ellis (Derry, PA./Derry Area HS) and Seiblesierra Ili (Barstow, CA./Barstow HS). With the departure of some top talent on both sides of the ball these two girls will be looking to step up in their new roles and help PSUGA Volleyball compete in 2018.
Ellis comes to PSUGA with a number of credentials under her belt from high school. She was a three-time All-Section winner, a three-time All-WPIAL player, and wa sa member of the 2017 PVCA All-State Team at Derry Area High School. She finished her high school career with the Trojans totaling 576 kills, 124 blocks, and a hitting percentage of .53. Ellis will look to join Holtzman as they try and lead the offensive attack.
Helping to set those two up will be Ili, who will serve as the team’s setter in 2018. Ili comes all the way from Barstow California where she was a standout for the Barstow High School Aztecs. She was a four-time coaches award winner as well as being named a two-time All-League MVP. A four-sport athlete in high school, Ili looks to bring her athleticism to the floor.
Friday will also be the start of the 2018-2019 season for both of PSUGA’s opponents. Carlow finished 2017 with a record of 10-24 and a 3-13 record in the River State Conference while UMFK had a strong season finishing 31-8 and reaching the United States Collegiate Athletic Association National Tournament. Carlow has won all four previous matchups against PSUGA while Friday will be the first time that PSUGA has ever faced UMFK.
Tip-off for the first match of the day against Carlow will be at 3:30 p.m. followed by the match against UMFK scheduled for 8 p.m.
