#3 PITT-BRADFORD, #4 LA ROCHE ADVANCE TO WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL SEMINFINALS

#3 Pitt-Bradford swept #6 Medaille College, while #4 La Roche College picked up the 3-1 victory over #5 Penn State Altoona to advance to the AMCC women's volleyball semifinals, to played on Satuday, November 3.

October 31, 2018

#3 Pitt-Bradford swept #6 Medaille College, while #4 La Roche College picked up the 3-1 victory over #5 Penn State Altoona to advance to the AMCC women's volleyball semifinals, to played on Satuday, November 3.

#3 Pitt-Bradford d. #6 Medaille, 3-0
The Panthers rolled in the opening set, clicking on both offense and defense. Katie Treat knocked four kills on as many swings to lead the offensive attack. Laura Hildebrand dug nine Medaille attempts while Elizabeth Johnson assisted four blocks at the net and recorded a solo block as well. Pitt-Bradford eventually commanded the 25-9 win in set one.

But Medaille found its form in the second set, knocking 15 kills on 42 attempts. However, Pitt-Bradford used 10 kills of its own to capitalize on six Medaille hitting errors and five service errors to pull off a 25-23 win.

The third set was much of the same, with the two teams trading control. Pitt-Bradford eventually gained momentum as Alayna Seggi dropped in three-straight aces to force a Medaille timeout that set off the raucous KOA Arena crowd. Ultimately, a Payton Orzech service ace gave Pitt-Bradford the 25-19 win and the three-set playoff victory. Riley Anderson led the team with 13 kills on 39 attempts and Treat knocked eight kills on 16 attempts.

With the victory over No. 6 Medaille, No. 3 Pitt-Bradford advances to the AMCC semifinals to face No. 2 Mount Aloysius Saturday at 4:30 p.m. Both the semifinals and finals will take place at top seed Penn State Behrend.

#4 La Roche d. #5 Penn State Altoona, 3-1
Penn State Altoona ran away from La Roche in set 1 25-19 and the Redhawks regrouped for set 2.

Penn State Altoona jumped out to an early set 2 lead. La Roche senior Laura Nath threw down a spike to try and swing the momentum. Bradford helped the Redhawks cut an 11-6 deficit to an 11-11 tie. The Lions took back the lead but McDonald, Janet Aland and Nath kills tied it at 17-17. A Hannah Scott ace gave the Redhawks their first lead of the set. Nath paced the Redhawks down the stretch and the Redhawks held game point at 24-22. Penn State Altoona tied it but a Bethany Nulph kill won it 27-25 and tied the match at 1-1.

Janet Aland tipped over a point to open set 3. La Roche took advantage of Penn State Altoona errors and started to run away with the set. Sarah Storino strung together a pair of aces to make it 13-6. Bradford and Janet Aland kills extended the lead to 17-7. Ingrid Spear denied a Lion attack to stretch the lead and Nath struck a kill for a 20-8 lead. Kayla Gramm slammed it down to win the set 25-11.

A Nath ace gave the Redhawks their first lead of set 4 at 6-5. The lead swung back and forth but Storino and Erin Conner snuck in aces to take an 11-8 lead.

A Bradford ace and a Nath kill extended La Roche's lead to 16-10. Spear took over at the net, recording back to back points with a block and kill. Gramm ended it, sending the Redhawks to the semis.

Nath finished with a match-high 17 kills. Storino and McDonald combined for 44 assists and Scott had 42 digs.

#4 La Roche will take on #1 Penn St. Behrend at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 3, with #3 Pitt-Bradford and #2 Mount Aloysius to follow at 4:30 p.m. All semifinal and final matches will take place at top-seed Penn State Behrend.