McKeesport, PA. – The Penn State Greater Allegheny Volleyball Team (1-4, 1-0) is looking to build off the momentum of their first win of the season when they battle Kent State Tuscarawas (0-2, 0-0) on Friday at 7 p.m. After opening conference play with a 3-0 sweep of PSU-Mont Alto, the volleyball team is running on a hot streak heading into action.
Alix Ellis (Derry, PA,/Derry Area HS) and the PSUGA offense led the way in the 3-0 win over PSU-Mont Alto last weekend getting set wins of 25-20, 25-10, and 25-21. PSUGA started each of the three sets trailing Mont Alto, but were able to work their way back in each contest showing a resiliency that has been missing over the last couple years.
Ellis led the way in the game with a career high 15 kills on 25 total attack opportunities good for a .560 hitting percentage. Ellis was rewarded for her efforts being named the week 2 Penn State University Athletic Conference Volleyball Player of the Week and currently ranks second in all of the PSUAC with 44 kills and a .188 hitting percentage through the first five games.
Seiblesierra Ili (Bartsow, CA./Barstow HS) led in the passing game with 23 assists and 6 service aces on the day. Her biggest moment of the afternoon was when she rallied off 16 straight serves, including four service aces, in the second set to lead PSUGA to a 25-10 set win and a 2-0 lead over Mont Alto. Kimmy Tinker (Ewing, Il, Benton Consolidated HS) chipped in on defense with a team leading nine digs and ranks third in the PSUAC in that category with 80.
The win gave PSUGA their first conference win of the season and has them sitting atop the PSUAC West Division in the early part of the season. Last season, they didn’t pick up their first conference win until September 30th putting them in a better position to make their move towards the PSUAC Playoffs.
Kent State Tuscarawas is on a down swing to start the season having lost each of their first two matches without picking up a win in any of the six sets they played in. What offense the Golden Eagles have seen has come courtesy of Morgain Little who has 4 kills on 13 total attacks in the team’s two matches played this season.
Friday will be the first time that Kent State Tuscarawas and PSUGA have matched up in either team’s history. PSUGA is looking to keep their success going on their home court where they are 1-1 this season and have won four of the seven sets played inside the Wunderly Gymnasium. With two more non-conference games before they get into the thick of their conference schedule, PSUGA will be looking to keep improving as they prepare for their conference opponents.
Friday’s match against Kent State Tuscarawas is scheduled to tip-off at 7 pm inside the Wunderly Gymnasium. Doors open at 6 pm or you can watch a live stream of the game at bit.ly/PSUGAYT.
