BRADFORD, Pa. - The La Roche women's volleyball team's season came to a close tonight after the reigning Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Champions, Pitt Bradford, defeated the Redhawks three sets to none in the first round of the AMCC Volleyball Tournament Championship. This is the first year the 2020 senior class will not be advancing to at least the semi-final of the conference tournament (2018: Semi-final, 2017: Championship Runner-Up, 2016: Semi-final). La Roche Volleyball will be losing eight seniors next season, including starters Bailey McDonald, Janet Aland, Christine Aland, Reilee Bradford & Erin Connor. As a unit, the five seniors have combined for an average of 4.7 kills per set, 5.98 assists per set and 9.8 digs per set; playing a combined 464 sets in 2019.
Final: La Roche: 0, Pitt Bradford: 3
Records: La Roche (9-18), Pitt Bradford (16-13)
Synopsis:
The Panthers jumped out to a 16-2 lead to start to the first set. They would win the set by a score of 25-9 behind Bradford Junior Emily Cleveland's 8 kills.
In the second set, La Roche would not allow Bradford take command as easily as they did in the first. Mid-way through the second the Panthers led 13-9 before going on a 12-4 run to win the set and go up 2-0 in the match.
La Roche got their first lead of the match in the third set behind three kills from junior middle hitter Ingrid Spear going up by a score of 9-8. The Panthers would then go on an 11-3 run and take a 19-12 lead. The Redhawks pulled the set within two points but the reigning conference champions prevailed and won the set 25-19.
The Redhawks had 22 kills in the match compared to Pitt Bradford's 40 while committing 16 more total errors than the Panthers.
LEADING THE ATTACK: Ingrid Spear and Freshman outside hitter Mackenzie Jeric led the Redhawks tonight with 6 kills a piece. Spear finished with a .278 hitting percentage on the night committing only one error on 18 total attacks. This season she has averaged a .259 hitting percentage in 98 sets.
SET EM' UP: Senior setter Bailey McDonald finished with a team-high 12 assists on the night while also picking up 5 digs. This season, McDonald recorded a total of 491 assists, 199 more than she had in 2018. Her 4.99 assists per set average this season is 7th in the AMCC.
BACK ROW PLAY: Senior libero/defensive specialist Erin Connor collected a game-high 13 digs on the night. Connor has recorded 400 digs this season, good enough for top 5 in the conference.
AT THE NET: Senior middle hitter Christine Aland and Ingrid Spear each recorded two block assists in the match. Spear finished the season with 88 total blocks (1st in AMCC).