PITT-BRADFORD, PENN STATE ALTOONA EARN FIRST ROUND VICTORIES

#3 Pitt-Bradford and #4 Penn State Altoona each swept their opponents in first round women's volleyball action Wednesday evening to advance to the semifinals to be played on Saturday afternoon. Pitt-Bradford got the 3-0 victory over #6 La Roche University, while Altoona won 3-0 over #5 Franciscan University.

Penn State Altoona 3, Franciscan 0
#4 Penn State Altoona secured a win in Wednesday night's AMCC tournament first round match, sweeping No. 5 Franciscan 3-0 to advance to the next round of the playoffs. The Lady Lions topped Franciscan in a match featuring plenty of long rallies and hustling plays. Penn State Altoona won in three sets by scores of 25-19, 25-19, and 25-16. Emily Bryan recorded a double-double, leading the team in assists with 12 while contributing 14 digs. She also led all players in the match with five service aces, and she chipped in one block assist. Lauren Diller and Lydia Mock tied for the team lead in kills, recording nine kills apiece. Diller also had 10 digs and two block assists, and Mock finished with 13 digs and one ace.

Pitt-Bradford 3, La Roche 0
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 eight 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 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. Pitt-Bradford had 40 kills in the match compared to the Redhawks' 22. La Roche also committed 16 more total errors than the Pitt-Bradford's Emily Cleveland finished the match with 17 kills and a .371 hitting percentage. She also added 2 aces, 3 digs and a half block. Riley Anderson finished with 9 kills, and led the Panthers in digs with 14 and 3 service aces. Tabitha Walker dished out 21 assists and Gabby Barnes added 11 of her own. Laura Hildebrand also finished with double digit digs with 13.