READING — The Penn State Berks women's volleyball team (11-12) made a quick turnaround as they took on Cheyney University (4-9) on Saturday, October 24 in non-conference competition. Berks was able to get up early and held off a late surge by the Wolves to earn a 3-1 victory on Senior Day.
Berks erased a 14-8 deficit with an 11-point surge in the first set and held on for a 25-22 win. Earlier, the Wolves built a 10-4 lead before the Nittany Lions began working back with kills from
Dani Tribbett and
Shea Leber and an
Emily Snader service ace.
Libby Swoyer then served Berks through 10 straight points, including six aces, while Leber and Snader added kills to move the home side ahead 19-14. The Wolves later tied the set at 20-20, but Snader answered with a kill and two late service aces before Tribbett closed the set with a kill from Swoyer.
The Nittany Lions worked back to a 15-15 tie in the second set, but the Wolves created the final separation from there. Earlier, the Wolves opened with two aces before Berks answered with a
Gabryella Maney ace at 2-2 and a Snader ace at 4-4.
Julia Zaprazny's block was part of a three-point Blue & White stretch that moved the home side ahead 7-6, and
Shea Leber's kill from
Tori Schaeffer followed by an
Ella Griffiths ace gave Berks a 10-8 lead. After the Wolves went in front 12-10, Leber added two more kills,
Mackenzie Davis served an ace and the Nittany Lions pulled even three times, the last at 15-15, before the Wolves closed with 10 of the final 12 points for a 25-17 set win.
Berks built the third set around an 8-0 opening run on
Libby Swoyer's serve, with
Delaney Gote and Snader supplying kills, Snader and Gote combining on a block, and Swoyer adding three aces. The Wolves answered with three straight points to make it 8-3, but the Nittany Lions kept finding sideouts as Snader,
Madelyn Caris, Leber and Gote each put away swings with Swoyer assists. After the Wolves later moved within 20-17, Tribbett had a block assist on a Paris Coaxum attack error and followed with a kill to move Berks to 22-17. Snader's late kill brought up set point at 24-20, and Swoyer finished the 25-20 set with another service ace.
The Nittany Lions answered the Wolves' push in the fourth set with the set's decisive stretch, using a kill by Snader to regain serve at 14-12 before Swoyer served six straight points to build a 21-12 lead. Earlier, Berks fell behind 2-0 but moved in front 6-3 behind kills from Snader and Gote, then added a Gote service ace and a Tribbett block during the next surge to reach 9-4. Leber and Snader added kills as the Blue & White stretched the margin to 14-7 before the Wolves won five straight points to get back within 14-12. Berks responded with blocks involving Leber, Snader and Gote, two more Gote kills and a Snader kill during the Swoyer service run, then finished the set with a Gote kill at 24-15 and a Wolves attack error for a 25-15 set win.
Swoyer recorded 30 assists, 10 service aces and six digs. Snader led Berks with 13 kills and 19.5 points while hitting .556 and adding five aces. Davis finished with 23 digs. Gote added nine kills while hitting .471, with two block assists.
SENIOR DAY
Before the match, the Nittany Lions recognized Snader, Davis, Swoyer, and Zaprazny as Berks honored their seniors on Senior Day.
WHO'S NEXT
Up next, Berks will host their final regular season home contest as they take on Penn College on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, at 6 p.m. at Beaver Athletics and Wellness Center in Reading, Pa. in United East action.
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