PITTSBURGH, Pa. – La Roche volleyball returned to action on Saturday afternoon, playing host to Pitt-Bradford. This time around, the Redhawks brought home their first AMCC win with a 3-0 sweep of the Panthers.
Set one saw the widest margin of victory for the red and black, taking the opening set 25-18
La Roche trailed 8-5 in the early stage of the set, but at that point, rattled off a 5-1 run to take a 10-9 lead.
The teams traded the lead following the run, but it was when the score was tied 14-14 the Redhawks took charge.
The red and black rattled off a 9-2 run, opening a 23-16 lead and would close out the set just four points later.
Set two was a battle, going into extra points, ending 27-25.
La Roche opened the set up 7-3 and would build the lead past the midway point to 17-11.
However, Bradford would battle back, scoring 10 of the next 14 points to even the set at 21-21.
The Panthers saw themselves hold a 24-23 lead, but the Redhawks countered with a pair to force extra play and then won it with the final two points after the game was tied at 25-25.
Set three was another battle, but the red and black were able to lock in late to win 25-23.
La Roche again opened a 5-2 lead early, but Bradford would fight to take an 8-7 lead early.
The Redhawks would counter with four straight points to regain the edge at 11-8 and it would hold for a few points until the Panthers had their own 4-0 run to go up 17-16.
The red and black would battle to regain a 20-19 lead, then after alternating the next four points, Bradford took the lead at 23-22.
La Roche didn't fret, closing out the match with the final three points to seal the win.
Kylie Fehlman led the offense with nine kills on the day, while Quinn Hughes and Kalli Grine followed with seven kills each.
Mackenzie Kerkan led the defensive side with 23 digs, while three other hit double figures, including Brooke Bednarski and Emma Kaufman with 12, while Grine added 11. Bednarski had a double-double with 27 assists.
The red and black dominated on the block through, with 16 total blocks, led by Hughes with three solos and five assisted, Grine with a solo block and five assists and seven assisted block by Fehlman
The Redhawks return to the floor on Wednesday, Oct. 16 when they welcome Carlow for a 7 p.m. opening serve.