McKeesport, Pa. – After getting a warm-up at the United States Collegiate Athletic Association Tip-off Tournament last weekend, the Penn State Greater Allegheny Volleyball team (0-3, 0-0) opens the home half of their 2018-2019 schedule when they take on Point Park (4-5, 0-0) on Friday at 7 p.m. It will be the first time for many of the talented nine freshmen playing in the Wunderly Gymnasium as they look to make a good first impression.
Things didn’t go as planned over the weekend for PSUGA after they dropped all three games at the USCAA Tournament. They opened play on August 31st against Carlow where they fell 3-0. They followed that with a 3-1 loss to the University of Maine Fort Kent and rounded out the weekend falling to PSU-Beaver 3-0.
Despite the losses, there were some positives to take away from the weekend that head coach Alyssa Finocchi and her team will take as they prepare for Penn State University Athletic Conference play. They showed they can compete with some of the top teams by taking a set from UMFK, who made it to the USCAA National Tournament a year ago.
Two PSUGA freshmen made their presence felt on the court with reigning PSUGA Female athlete of the week Sueriah Timsah (Mesquite, TX./West Mesquite HS) and Alix Ellis (Derry, PA./Derry Area HS) each contributing in their first couple game with PSUGA.
Timsah led PSUGA over the weekend collecting 15 kills on 48 total attacks between the three matches while adding eight digs and two service aces. Her biggest effort came against UMFK where she totaled a team high 12 of her 15 kills for the weekend on 33 total attacks helping to earn her the PSUGA Female athlete of the week honors.
Ellis added to the offensive attack finishing just behind Timsah with 14 kills on a team leading 50 total attack opportunities. Ellis was also a strong performer on the defensive side of the ball where she led the team with seven solo blocks and finished second on the team with 11 digs finishing behind fellow freshman Kimmy Tinker (Ewing, IL./Benton Consolidated HS) who had 23 digs through the three matches.
PSUGA will be tested in its home opener when they take on NCAA Division II Powerhouse Point Park. The Pioneers come in having won three of their last four contests, however, they fell to Mercyhurst their last time out three sets to one. After taking the first set 27-25, they failed to win another set falling 25-21, 25-16, and 28-26 to round out the match.
Friday will be the first time that PSUGA has ever faced Point Park in Volleyball and will serve as a test to see where this year’s team is and how they can keep improving as they get closer and closer to conference play. PSUGA head coach Alyssa Finocchi is excited about the talent on this year’s team and wants to harness that talent into a team mentality.
Tip-off for Friday’s match against Point Park is set for 7 p.m. inside the Wunderly Gymnasium. Come support your PSUGA Volleyball team when doors open at 6 p.m.
