Cresson, PA -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford women's volleyball team took on conference-leading Mount Aloysius on Saturday afternoon. The Panthers battled in set one, but after losing a tight set, dropped the next two to lose the match 3-0.
The Panthers pushed the Mounties to the limit in the opener, holding a set point at 25-24, but the hosts closed with 3 straight points to win the set 27-24. Pitt-Bradford lost the momentum in the second set, losing 25-14, and then could not erase a 9-point deficit in the third, losing the match after a 25-19 loss in set three.
In the first set, the Panthers got off to a slow start, dropping the first three points of the match and eventually trailed 13-5 in the set. After a service error, the Panthers rallied, scoring 15 of the next 19 points. Lillian Bentley and Ruby Smith recorded early sideouts in the run, and then Smith put down three straight for Pitt-Bradford, tying the set at 16. Jenna Louser put the Panthers in front, and then, following a sideout, kept them in front with another spike. The Panthers pushed the lead to 3 with a pair of Mount Aloysius errors, but the hosts responded with four straight to retake the lead. The Panthers pushed the Mounties to set point with kills by Louser and Wilson, and a double block by Bentley and Pago. Unfortunately, they could not close out the set, and the Mounties closed with 5 of the next 6 points to win the set 27-25.
To begin the second set, Marissa Bowman dropped in a point to tie the score at one, but the hosts scored the next 5 to jump in front. Pitt-Bradford trimmed the deficit to 3 after an error at 9-6; however, the Mounties responded by scoring 12 of the next 16 to take a commanding lead. Bentley had a pair of late kills in the set, but Mount Aloysius was able to finish the set with a few side outs.
Looking to extend the match, the Panthers stayed with the Mounties early, using kills by Louser and Bentley and a Danielle Sasuga ace to trail the hosts 7-6. Mount Aloysius jumped into the lead with a 9-1 rally and eventually pushed their lead to double digits at 20-10. Bentley had three kills as part of a 5-2 run to trim the lead to 7, but after the Panthers scored 4 straight on match point, a Mount Aloysius kill ended the match.
Lillian Bentley led the Panthers with 9 kills, 10 digs, and 3 blocks. Alycia Wilson added 7 kills, while Jenna Louser finished with 6. Marissa Bowman tallied 17 assists.
The loss drops the Panthers to 16-9 on the season with a 2-3 mark in AMCC play. They will have a midweek bye before returning to action next Saturday with a match against La Roche for Senior Day.
