ALTOONA, PA - The Penn State Berks Women's Volleyball team headed up to Altoona, Pa. to compete in a tri-match against Chatham University and host institute Penn State Altoona. The Nittany Lions fell in both contests on the day.
In the first match, The Nittany Lions stayed even through the early stages of the first set, tying it at 8-8 on an Emily Snader kill, before Chatham created separation with five straight points and went on to take the set 25-14. Earlier, Delaney Gote put Berks on the board with a kill from Libby Swoyer, and a Dani Tribbett service turn helped the Blue & White move ahead 5-3 behind consecutive Chatham attack errors. Gote added another kill for a 6-4 edge, and the Nittany Lions continued to answer through the middle of the set with a Julia Zaprazny kill, a Madelyn Caris kill from Swoyer and a later Gote finish. Gabryella Maney followed Gote's late kill with a service ace to bring Berks to 14-19, but Chatham scored the final six points to close the set.
Berks cut into an early 7-2 deficit behind a Gabryella Maney service ace, an Emily Snader kill from Maney and a Madelyn Caris ace, getting within 8-7 before Chatham slowed the push. Shea Leber added a kill from Maney to keep the Blue & White within 9-8, but Chatham scored the next six points to build a 15-8 advantage. The Nittany Lions got a later kill from Leber and an Ella Griffiths service ace, then made another late push with two Caris kills, a Caris block and a Griffiths kill to move from 23-13 to 23-17. Chatham took the final two points to close the set 25-17.
The Nittany Lions were even at 5-5 in the third set before Chatham scored 13 straight points, a stretch that included three service aces by Delaney Schwind and left Berks facing an 18-5 deficit. Earlier, Gote supplied two kills off Libby Swoyer assists, first putting the Blue & White ahead 2-1 and later bringing the set to 3-3. Berks moved back in front 5-4 when Emily Snader and Julia Zaprazny combined on a block, but Chatham answered to tie it and then controlled the middle of the set. The Nittany Lions ended the long run on a Chatham attack error and added a late Karlie Kerschner kill at 23-7 before Chatham closed the set 25-7.
Gote led Berks with five kills and finished with five points. Mackenzie Davis collected a team-high 12 digs. Libby Swoyer posted a team-best nine assists and added three digs. Gabryella Maney added six assists and a team-high two service aces.
In the second game, Berks nearly erased a late first-set deficit, winning seven of eight points to move from down 19-12 to within 20-19 before Penn St.-Altoona finished the set 25-20. Earlier, the Nittany Lions answered a 7-2 hole with points from a Penn St.-Altoona service error, a Delaney Gote kill, a Julia Zaprazny kill and a Gabryella Maney service ace to get back to 8-6. Penn St.-Altoona later stretched the margin to 17-7, but Berks stopped that run and began working back with help from Emily Snader's block involvement, Libby Swoyer's service ace and another Gote kill. The late push included kills by Dani Tribbett, Gote, Madelyn Caris and Zaprazny, plus service aces from Ella Griffiths and Marissa Bailey, before Penn St.-Altoona claimed the final four points of the set.
The Nittany Lions were within 16-11 before Penn St.-Altoona scored seven straight points on Nicole Pierce's serve, including two aces, to push the set to 23-11. Earlier, Shea Leber answered the opening point with a kill from Libby Swoyer, and a block by Madelyn Caris and Gote helped Berks move ahead 2-1. Tribbett, Julia Zaprazny and Gote supplied kills as the Blue & White continued to answer through the middle of the set, with Gote finishing with three kills in the frame. Gote's final kill made it 23-12, but Penn St.-Altoona took the next two points to close the second set 25-12.
Berks put itself in front late in the third set, leading 23-21, but Penn St.-Altoona scored the final four points to take the set, 25-23. Earlier, the Nittany Lions faced an 11-3 deficit before Madelyn Caris, Tori Schaeffer and Gote each put down kills and Libby Swoyer added a service ace as part of a climb back to 13-9. Tribbett later served three straight Berks points, including an ace, to pull within 15-14, and the visitors tied the set at 16-16 after a Penn St.-Altoona setting error and an attack error while Gote served. After falling behind 18-16, the Nittany Lions won four straight points on Madelyn Caris's serve, including a Julia Zaprazny block-assisted point and a Caris ace, then got a late Caris kill from Swoyer and an Altoona attack error to reach their 23-21 edge.
Gote led Berks with nine kills and 9.5 points, adding three digs and a block assist. Libby Swoyer finished with 18 assists, two service aces and three digs. Mackenzie Davis collected 14 digs and converted her lone attack for a kill. Madelyn Caris added four kills, 11 digs, a service ace and a block assist.
UP NEXT
Up next, the Nittany Lions face will have their first home contest of the season as they host Penn State Mont Alto on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, at 6 p.m.
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