Lamont Furnace, PA. – Coming into play on Saturday, the Penn State Greater Allegheny Volleyball Team (7-9, 2-3) was looking for some momentum as they chased their goal of making the Penn State University Athletic Conference Playoffs. After going 2-0 on day two of the Fayette Tournament, PSUGA has won each of their last four games and has all the momentum as they go into the second half of their season.
The day started with PSUGA taking on PSU-York and claiming their third 3-0 sweep of the weekend. PSUGA jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the first set before York battled back to make it just a two-point game. Juliana Brill (Mount Jackson, Va./Stonewall Jackson HS) would hit the serving block and help PSUGA pull out to a 15-6 lead thanks to six straight serves. The two teams traded the final 20 points of the match and PSUGA walked away with a 25-16 victory.
PSU-York would start the second set off with the hot hand jumping out to a 6-1 lead early in the set. Rebecca Linn (McKeesport, PA./McKeesport HS) would be the one to help PSUGA back into the game with seven straight serves that brought the score back to an 8-6 PSUGA lead. PSUGA would take it from there again scoring a 25-16 win to take a 2-0 lead. PSUGA would use a spurt of late momentum to take the final set 25-12 and complete their third 3-0 sweep of the weekend.
Alix Ellis (Derry, PA./Derry Area HS) led her team with 11 kills on 16 total attacks while Kaylee Holtzman (McKeesport, PA./McKeesport HS) finished with 7 kills on 14 total attacks. Brill led the defense with another strong effort picking up 15 digs and Linn led the team with four service aces as part of her seven straight serves in the second set.
With one win under their belt, PSUGA would move on to their second game of the day as they took on Penn State Schuylkill. It was a hard-fought battle throughout the match, but once again PSUGA showed their resiliency picking up their fourth sweep of the weekend as part of a perfect 4-0 stretch that brings their overall record to 7-9.
After picking up 25-20 and 25-12, PSUGA headed into the final set with a lot of confidence as they looked for their fourth sweep of the weekend. Scranton would fight until the very end as the teams went back and forth to a 20-20 score late in the set. PSUGA would get the boost they needed from their veteran Holtzman who rattled off four straight serves to get PSUGA a 24-20 lead before they closed the deal with a 25-21 win.
Ellis and Holtzman once again led the charge with 8 and six kills respectively leading the team. Brill once again finished the game with double digit digs picking up 10 in her team’s win whole Seiblesierra Ili (Barstow, CA./Barstow HS) led the way with 21 assists.
PSUGA now has some momentum on their side as they head into two non-conference matchups before they go back to PSUAC play. With four straight wins under their belt, they will look to continue to improve as they chase that coveted PSUAC Playoff spot.
PSUGA is back in action on Monday when they travel to Westmoreland County Community College for a 6 p.m. tip-off
