READING — The Penn State Berks women's volleyball team (7-7, 2-0) hosted Cedar Crest College (3-10, 0-2) in United East conference action on Wednesday, September 30. After falling behind to the Falcons 2-0, Berks fought their way back and earned the reverse sweep as the Nittany Lions won 3-2 and stayed undefeated in conference play.
Berks erased an early 6-2 deficit in the first set, using
Gabryella Maney's service ace, two
Delaney Gote kills and a Cedar Crest attack error to pull even at 6-6, but Cedar Crest rebuilt the margin and took the set 25-18. Earlier,
Gwen Tew put the Nittany Lions on the board with a kill from
Libby Swoyer, and another Cedar Crest error helped the home side tie the set at 2-2 before Cedar Crest's first service run. After Cedar Crest moved ahead 13-7,
Julia Zaprazny,
Emily Snader and Tew added kills to keep Berks scoring through the middle of the set. The Blue & White made another push from 19-11 to 19-15 with
Ella Griffiths serving, getting points from two Cedar Crest errors and kills by Tew and Gote, then added a
Julia Zaprazny-Gote block assist late before Cedar Crest closed the set.
The Nittany Lions kept the second set within reach by repeatedly answering Cedar Crest late, pulling even at 18-18, 20-20, 21-21, 22-22 and 23-23 before Cedar Crest scored the final two points for a 25-23 set win. Earlier,
Madelyn Caris opened the set with a kill from
Libby Swoyer, and
Emily Snader had three kills in the first half of the set as Berks worked back from Cedar Crest advantages, including a Gote ace that tied it at 14-14. After Cedar Crest moved ahead 18-15,
Julia Zaprazny and Caris delivered kills, and Tew joined Swoyer on a block to make it 18-18. The Blue & White continued to answer behind Gote, who had kills to tie the set at 20-20 and 21-21, Tew and Gote's block that made it 22-22, and Zaprazny's kill from Swoyer that tied it at 23-23, but Cedar Crest closed with kills by Kayla Duenkel and Autumn Clewell.
Berks closed the third set by winning seven of the final eight rallies after leading 18-10, finishing off a 25-11 set victory on a block by
Julia Zaprazny and
Madelyn Caris. Earlier, the Nittany Lions scored the first four points behind
Libby Swoyer's serve, including her ace and kills from Gote and Tew. Cedar Crest cut into the early margin with service aces, but the Blue & White kept answering with sideouts and kills from Gote,
Madelyn Caris and
Shea Leber. The decisive late stretch included four straight points on
Ella Griffiths' serve, with Gote adding a kill and Griffiths recording an ace before Berks pulled away to take the set.
The Nittany Lions outlasted Cedar Crest in a 27-25 fourth set, finishing the frame on a Cedar Crest service error and attack error after the visitors had twice pulled even late. Earlier, Berks trailed 6-3 before Gote's sideout kill started a five-point answer, with
Karlie Kerschner adding a kill and Gote serving an ace to move the home team ahead 8-6.
Libby Swoyer helped the Blue & White create more separation from an 11-10 edge, serving two aces around back-to-back Gote kills for a 15-10 lead. Cedar Crest cut into the margin after Berks led 21-16 and tied the set at 24-24, but the Nittany Lions reached set point again at 26-25 and closed the set on the next rally.
Berks answered a 5-4 deficit in the fifth set by moving in front 9-6, with
Madelyn Caris putting down a kill from
Libby Swoyer and Gote adding a service ace during the stretch. Earlier, the Nittany Lions opened ahead 3-1 after a Gote kill from Swoyer before Cedar Crest won the next four points to take the lead. After Cedar Crest got within 11-9, the Blue & White responded with a Cedar Crest setting error and a block involving Tew and Leber to reach 13-9. A Cedar Crest service error brought Berks to set point, and a final attack error closed the 15-10 fifth-set win for the Nittany Lions.
Gote finished with 20 kills, 15 digs, four service aces and 25.0 points for Berks.
Libby Swoyer recorded 30 assists, four service aces and 10 digs.
Ella Griffiths collected a team-high 16 digs and added one service ace. Tew added eight kills and a team-best four total blocks.
WHO'S NEXT
Up next, the Nittany Lions host Penn State Brandywine on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. at Beaver Athletics and Wellness Center as Berks celebrates Homecoming weekend.
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