PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Women's volleyball won their 4th conference game of the season tonight in a battle with the visiting Penn St. Altoona Nittany Lions, three sets to one. La Roche has now won three straight matches against Altoona by a combined score of 12-2 dating back to last season. The Redhawks improve to 6-2 at the Kerr Sport and Fitness Center this year where they have won three straight matches, all against conference opponents. Senior setter Bailey McDonald, Freshman outside hitter Mackenzie Jeric, & Senior libero Erin Connor all had standout performances, setting season-highs in assists, digs and kills. But tonight's win was an all-around effort by La Roche. Three different Redhawks had at least 10 kills and six had at least 5, totalling 60 in all, their highest mark in a single match this season. In their last two home matches, they have recorded a whopping 155 kills, the most in any two game home stretch this year. Tonight's win bumped La Roche up two spots in the conference standings to fourth, their pre-season rank.
Final: La Roche: 3, Penn St. Altoona: 1
Records: La Roche (8-14, AMCC: 4-2), Penn St. Altoona (6-9, AMCC: 2-2)
Synopsis:
In the first set, after being down 18-13, La Roche persevered and went on a 12-5 run to win the first set by two points behind two late kills from Senior right side hitter Christine Aland.
La Roche once again found themselves behind midway through the second set 14-7, but were able to climb back in and at one point gained the lead 22-21. Penn St. would go on a 5-2 run to win the second set 26-24 and even the match.
After the losing the first point of the third set, the Redhawks went on a 3-0 run and never looked back. They would hold the lead throughout the third set eventually winning it 25-20 to go up 2-1.
Jeric went off in the fourth set. She recorded four straight kills for the Redhawks at the beginning of the set and finished with nine total in the fourth. That's more than Mackenzie has had in eighteen games this season. After going down 23-22, La Roche strung together three straight points to win the set and the match. The final kill was off a McDonald set and a Jeric kill.
LEADING THE ATTACK: Jeric had a season-high 21 kills on the night, the most by any Redhawk in a single match this season. Jeric now owns the first, second & thirst most kills in a single match this season (17 kills vs. Pitt Greensburg on 10/8/2019 & 15 kills vs. Oberlin on 9/21/2019). Her 144 kills this season are the most on the team and 13th in the AMCC. Mackenzie also tacked on 12 digs and 3 service aces.
SET EM' UP: McDonald had a career-high 39 assists to lead the Redhawks on the evening. McDonald has had back-to-back career-high's in assists at the Kerr (31 assists on 10/8 vs Pitt Greensburg), combing for 70 assists in those two performances (8.75 assists/set). Bailey also tacked on 7 kills and 13 digs. She has been one of the best all-around players for the Redhawks this season, ranking first in assists (396), third in digs (161), & sixth in kills (55).
BACK ROW PLAY: Connor came up clutch defensively recording a career-high 26 digs on the night. She currently leads the team with 325 digs this season (3rd in the AMCC). Senior right side hitter Reilee Bradford also had a career-high 24 digs to go along with 11 kills, 5 assists, & 3 service aces, another stellar all-around performance.
AT THE NET: Senior middle hitter Ingrid Spear recorded 4 total blocks on the night (2 solo & 2 assisted). Spear now ranks first in the AMCC in total blocks (67) and solo blocks (41).
NEXT UP : The Redhawks head up to Erie to take on the Penn St. Behrend Nittany Lions on Saturday, October 19th in the AMCC Match of the Week. The match will begin at 1:00 p.m.