McKeesport, PA. – After getting a win in their Penn State University Athletic Conference opener on Wednesday, the Penn State Greater Allegheny volleyball team (1-4, 0-1) travels to Shippensburg, PA for a tri-match with Penn State Mont Alto and Christendom at 1 pm and 3 pm. PSUGA will look to continue the momentum from a five set victory and help that propel them through the season.
After falling behind 1-0 in Wednesday’s conference opener against PSU-Shenango, PSUGA bared down and came back to take sets two and three by scores of 25-17 and 25-21. PSU-Shenango took set four forcing a fifth and final set. After the teams battled to a 13-13 tie, PSUGA finished things off with kills by Sam Snashell (Buffalo, NY./Center School for Applied Technology) and Sueriah Timsah (Mesquite, TX./West Mesquite HS) to secure the 3-2 victory.
Freshman Alexa Martell (Elizabeth, PA./Elizabeth Forward HS) had a career day knocking down 14 kills on 29 total attacks in the team’s win. Alix Ellis (Derry, PA./Derry Area HS) added 10 kills of her own and Juliana Brill (Mount Jackson, VA./Stonewall Jackson HS) led the defense with 17 digs.
The win marks the second straight season that PSUGA has started the year 1-0 in PSUAC play. Last season, they defeated PSU-Mont Alto 3-0 to get off to a 1-0 start and improved their win total by two games. They are looking to continue to improve this season and grab their first playoff spot since the 2014 season.
PSU-Mont Alto comes into Saturday on a hot streak having won their last two contests to open conference play. Last time out, they defeated PSU-New Kensington 3-0 to move to 2-0 and sit atop the PSUAC West Division. Christendom college comes in on the opposite scale having dropped their last two games including a 3-0 loss to Notre Dame College of Maryland.
Previous Match-ups
In nine previous match-ups with PSU-Mont Alto, PSUGA has a record of 2-9, including a 1-1 record last season. After opening conference play with a win against Mont Alto last season, they dropped the second contest late in the year 3-0. Saturday will mark the team’s first-ever matchup with Christendom College.
Tip-off for Saturday’s tri-match is scheduled for 1 p.m. PSUGA will play in the first game at 1 p.m. against PSU-Mont Alto and the second game against Christendom College at 3 p.m.
