Wilkes-Barre, PA- The Penn St. Berks Women's Volleyball Team outlasted Wilkes University in a five-set thriller on Monday, Oct. 7. The Lions captured the match by set scores of 28-26, 12-25, 25-22, 20-25, 15-10.  

The Lions (4-9 Overall, 0-1 UEC) got off to a fast start, racing out to a 12-8 lead in the opening set off a service ace from Diana Stoltzfus. The teams traded points with the Colonels (3-12 Overall, 0-2 Landmark) rallying to take a 25-24 lead. Berks battled back, capitalize on an error and a kill by Jordan Thompson to retake a 26-25 advantage. Thompson would go on to close out the set victory with a service ace, giving the Lions a 28-26 opening set victory.  

After dropping the second set, Berks looked to rebound in the third set. The Lions went on a 5-1 run featuring kills from Makenzie Shoop and Stoltzfus to take a 10-8 advantage. The set remained close throughout, with the Lions trailing 22-21. Madelyn Caris and Katelyn Williams slammed down kills as part of a 4-0 run to close out the set and give Berks a 2-1 lead in the match.  

Wilkes bounced back, capturing the fourth set to level the match at two sets apiece. Berks got off to a fast start in the final set, with Stoltzfus firing two serve aces to give the Lions the lead. Thompson kept Berks in front, hammering down a pair of kills to take an 8-5 advantage. Williams and Stoltzfus kept the momentum going, pushing Berks ahead 12-6 with a pair of thunderous kills. Caris closed out the match with one last kill, securing the 15-10 set victory and 3-2 match victory.  

Stoltzfus led the Lions' offense, recording a double-double with 16 kills and 11 digs. Caris also finished the night with a double-double posting 10 kills and 10 digs. Thompson also reached double figures in kills, blasting 11 kills. Tarynn Coldren had a career-best 40 assists to power Berks' offensive attack. Defensively, Williams anchored the backline, finishing the match with 15 digs.  

WHO'S NEXT 

The Lions will be back in action when they host Carin University in a United East showdown on Wednesday, Oct. 9. The match is scheduled to start at 7:00 PM.  

FOLLOW US 

Fans can keep up with Penn St. Berks Athletics all season long on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube using the handle @BerksAthletics.