READING — The Penn State Berks women's volleyball team (7-10, 2-2) completed their four game home stretch with a United East conference matchup against St. Mary's College of Maryland (12-5, 3-0) on Tuesday, October 6. The Nittany Lions fought back in multiple sets but ultimately fell to the Seahawks 3-0 on the night.
The Nittany Lions worked their way in front twice in the opening set, but the Seahawks closed the set with the final eight points after the home side had pulled within 17-16. Earlier, after
Emily Snader's kill stopped a 4-1 start by the Seahawks, Berks scored five of the next six points;
Madelyn Caris served an ace, and two straight Seahawks errors gave Berks a 7-5 lead.
Delaney Gote,
Tori Schaeffer and Caris added kills as the Blue & White moved through the middle of the set, and
Gwen Tew's kill helped the team answer again for a 13-12 edge after the Seahawks had moved ahead. The Seahawks responded with two Falynn Tackett service aces and later finished the set from 17-16, handing the Nittany Lions a 25-16 set loss.
In the second set, Berks built the first separation, answering the opening point with four straight behind two
Emily Snader kills off
Libby Swoyer assists and a
Madelyn Caris service ace for a 4-1 lead. The Seahawks pushed back, but the Nittany Lions got kills from Gote and
Dani Tribbett to pull even at 8-8. From there, the Seahawks won seven straight points to move in front 15-8, and Berks had to play from behind the rest of the set. The home side responded with a Tribbett block and back-to-back Caris kills from Swoyer to get to 17-14, but the Seahawks closed the set with eight of the final 10 points for a 25-16 finish.
Berks made its clearest push midway through the third set, scoring four straight points to cut the Seahawks' lead to 18-14 behind a Tribbett-
Shea Leber block and a Tribbett kill from Schaeffer. Earlier, Gote helped keep the Nittany Lions close with kills that made it 2-2, 5-3 and 15-10, while
Marissa Bailey added a service ace during a stretch that brought the home side within 6-5. The Seahawks created separation with runs to 12-8 and 18-10, forcing Berks to answer from behind through defensive pressure and opponent errors. After the Blue & White got back within 19-15 on a service error, the Seahawks scored the final six points to take the set, 25-15.
Gote led Berks with six kills and added eight digs.
Libby Swoyer finished with 13 assists and five digs.
Madelyn Caris recorded team highs of nine digs and two service aces while adding three kills.
Emily Snader added five kills.
WHO'S NEXT
Up next, the Nittany Lions continue United East action as they travel to Langhorne, Pennsylvania, to face Cairn University on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 1 p.m.
FOLLOW US
Fans can keep up with Berks Athletics all season long on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube using the handle @BerksAthletics.
