WESTMINSTER, Md. — The Penn State Berks women's volleyball team (4-7) headed on the road as they took on McDaniel College (7-3) in non-conference competition. Berks earned a win in the third set but were unable to make a comeback as they fell to the Green Terror 3-1 on Tuesday, September 22.
The Nittany Lions put together their main push of the first set after falling behind 14-8, scoring four straight points with help from a McDaniel service error, two attack errors and
Delaney Gote's kill from
Libby Swoyer to get within 14-12. Earlier, Berks answered a 6-2 deficit with kills by
Emily Snader and
Madelyn Caris and a block by Snader and Caris, closing the gap to 6-5. McDaniel rebuilt its margin from there, but the Blue & White continued to find points through Gote, who added kills at 19-14 and 20-15, both assisted by Swoyer. McDaniel scored the final three points to take the set, 25-16.
Berks erased a 15-10 deficit in the second set by winning seven of the next eight points, moving ahead 17-16 on a Gote kill from
Dani Tribbett before McDaniel came back to take the set 25-23. Earlier, the Nittany Lions answered a 6-2 hole with four straight points on Gote's serve, including her service ace and a
Madelyn Caris kill, to go in front 7-6. After McDaniel rebuilt its advantage, Berks used blocks involving
Marissa Bailey, Tribbett and Gote, an
Ella Griffiths ace and multiple Gote kills to work back into the set. The Blue & White continued to trade points late, getting kills from Caris,
Julia Zaprazny and
Marissa Bailey to lead 22-20 and later 23-22, but McDaniel scored the final three points to close out the set.
The Nittany Lions held off McDaniel in the third set, answering multiple pushes before
Gwen Tew finished the 25-20 set win with a kill from
Marissa Bailey. Earlier, Berks moved ahead 4-1 during
Ella Griffiths' serve, with
Madelyn Caris putting down a kill from
Libby Swoyer amid McDaniel attack errors. After McDaniel tied the set at 8-8, the Blue & White responded with a kill by Gote and later built a 14-9 lead behind consecutive kills from Gote, Caris and Tribbett. McDaniel closed within 14-13, but Berks steadied with another Gote kill, a Caris kill and a late stretch that included Gote's kill and service ace to reach 22-15. McDaniel made one more run to 23-19, but the Nittany Lions earned set point on an attack error before Tew closed it out.
Berks worked a 9-4 deficit down to 11-10 in the fourth set, getting kills from
Madelyn Caris, Gote and
Mackenzie Davis, a block from Tribbett and a Davis kill off a
Libby Swoyer assist during the push. Earlier, the teams traded points through 4-4 before McDaniel scored five straight, with the Nittany Lions charged with five attack errors during that stretch. After Davis' kill tightened the set, McDaniel answered with six consecutive points to move ahead 17-10, and the Blue & White broke that run on a service error before adding a point on a McDaniel attack error.
Libby Swoyer, Gote and
Julia Zaprazny supplied late kills for Berks, but McDaniel stayed in front and closed the set 25-17.
Gote led the Nittany Lions with 15 kills and 17.5 points while adding two service aces and nine digs.
Madelyn Caris recorded 11 kills, 12 digs and a .286 hitting percentage.
Libby Swoyer finished with a team-high 16 assists and added six digs. Tribbett posted five total blocks, including three solo blocks, and added four kills.
WHO'S NEXT
Up next, the Berks volleyball team travels to La Plume, Pennsylvania as they compete in a tri-match on Saturday, September 26. The Nittany Lions will begin the day with their United East conference opener against host Keystone College at 11 a.m., followed by non-conference action against SUNY Polytechnic Institute 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.
