READING, Pa. — The Penn State Berks Women's Volleyball Team began their season on the road as they took on Alvernia University on Thursday, September 3. The Nittany Lions fell in three sets, 25-23, 25-14, and 26-24 to the Golden Wolves.
Berks opened the game with consecutive kills by
Dani Tribbett, assisted by
Libby Swoyer, and
Madelyn Caris, assisted by
Delaney Gote, and continued to answer Alvernia in a tight start that included kills from Gote,
Shea Leber and
Gwen Tew. The Blue & White moved ahead 9-8 on a Tribbett block, then stayed within one point through 12-11 as Caris, Tribbett and Gote each put away kills. After Alvernia built leads of 15-12 and 17-14, the Nittany Lions came back to tie the set at 17-17 on a Tew kill, a Caris kill and an Alvernia setting error. The Nittany Lions continued their push on the first set, closing a 24-21 deficit to 24-23 on a
Julia Zaprazny kill from
Gabryella Maney and an
Ella Griffiths service ace, but an error went in favor of Alvernia and saw the Nittany Lions fall in the first set 25-23.
Berks fell early in the second set as the Golden Wolves took a 15-6 lead.
Ella Griffiths and
Emily Snader added kills from Swoyer as the Nittany Lions worked to answer, but Alvernia pushed the margin to 18-9. The Blue & White put together a three-point response behind a Tew kill from Swoyer, a
Gabryella Maney service ace and an Alvernia attack error to make it 18-12. Gote delivered two late kills from Maney, including the point that brought Berks to 21-14, before Alvernia scored the final four points to take the set 25-14.
The third set saw Alvernia go ahead 6-5 before Berks took five of the next six points as Gote served an ace, Leber and Tew put down kills from Swoyer, and Tew contributed on a block for a 10-7 lead. The Blue & White expanded the margin to 18-10 behind kills from Gote, Tribbett and Leber and a
Madelyn Caris-Tribbett block, before Alvernia scored six straight to cut it to 18-16. The teams traded late points from there, with Leber, Tew,
Julia Zaprazny and Caris each delivering kills for the Nittany Lions before the closing sequence decided the set. The Nittany Lions pushed the third set to the final points and went in front 24-23 on
Libby Swoyer's service ace, but Alvernia answered with the last three points to take the set 26-24.
Mackenzie Davis recorded 23 digs and added three assists. Gote led Berks with nine kills and 10 points, adding five digs and a service ace.
Libby Swoyer finished with 19 assists, 10 digs and a service ace. Tew converted five kills on 10 attacks without an error for a .500 hitting percentage and added a solo block.
WHO'S NEXT
Penn State Berks will get back in action quickly as they head to Chambersburg, Pa. for a tri-match against Goucher College and host Wilson College on Saturday, September 5. The Nittany Lions first match will begin at 1 p.m.
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Fans can keep up with Berks Athletics all season long on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube using the handle @BerksAthletics.
