Lions Drop Second Match of Penn State Beaver/USCAA Volleyball Classic

August 26, 2011

Monaca, PA - The Penn State Beaver Lady Lions Volleyball Team  (0-2, 0-0 PSUAC) dropped a 3-1 match against Ohio State Marion Scarlet Wave, to finish winless on the first night of the 2011 Penn State Beaver/USCAA Volleyball Classic, and a place in tomorrow's 5th place game.

In the first set, Beaver jumped out to a 4-0 lead. Although Marion cut the lead to just a single point, Beaver's Jenn Fannin (Harbor Creek/Erie, PA) recorded a kill to regain a 8-6 lead and end the Scarlet Wave run. After a Beaver unforced error, Fannin and Kayona Ward (Beaver Fall/Beaver Falls, PA) had consecutive kills to give Beaver a 11-8 advantage. The set continued to go back and forth, with Beaver taking its biggest lead on a Gina Richman (Union/Edinburg, PA) service ace putting the Lady Lions up 15-10.

With the game tied at 18 apiece and then 22 apiece, Beaver's poor passing led to a 23-22 Ohio State Marion advantage. However, a Ward kill at the net tied the game up at 23 and another Richman ace put the Lady Lions back in the lead at 25-24. Beaver earned the final point on an Marion unforced error to give them their first set of the season, 26-24.

In the second set, Beaver took another early lead as they led 5-1. Unfortunately, the momentum did not last as the Scarlet Wave tallied 8 out of the next 11 points. With the game tied at 9 each, Beaver looked to have a rally point all but sealed up. However, the ball was dug out of the net and Ohio State Marion stole a point that Beaver was prematurely celebrating. The Scarlet Wave went on a 8-1 run after their remarkable play at the net and cruised to a 25-17 win.

Set thee and four were both back and forth affairs, as Beaver had a valiant effort but dropped both sets by combined seven point differential, 25-22 (set 3) and 25-21 in the fourth and final set.

Rachel Grubbs (Freeport/Sarver, PA) led the Beaver offense with 10 kills, while Richman had 8 assists and Ella Epps (Penn Hills/Pittsburgh, PA) had 5 digs.

Beaver will host either Penn College of Technology (Williamsport, PA) or Penn State Fayette (Uniontown, PA) based upon their results on Saturday mornings match.