Lions Can't Find Rhythm, Mont Alto Bests Beaver

September 24, 2011

Monaca, PA - The Penn State Beaver Lady Lions (4-7, 3-2 PSUAC) lost a straight set match (25-18, 25-14, 25-17) to PSUAC rival Penn State Mont Alto (Mont Alto, PA).

Straight off their straight sets win earlier in the day versus Penn State York, Beaver looked for a sweep in their home quad match. Unfortunately, Mont Alto had other ideas.

The first set, the closest of the match, was a back-and-forth affair with 10 ties and eight lead changes. Freshmen Natalie Gamble (Sto-Rox/McKees Rocks, PA) and Kayona Ward (Beaver Falls/Beaver Falls, PA) led the Beaver attack early in the match as Ward recorded two kills and Gamble had three, her last which put Beaver ahead by a slim 14-13 margin, after being down by a 9-5 score previously. However, Mont Alto tied the set up at 15-15 and scored 10 of the next 13 set points to win, 25-18.

Mont Alto used the momentum from the first set to lead wire-to-wire in the second set, as they finished Beaver off by a 25-14 margin. In addition, the 11 point set win was the largest margin Mont Alto held throughout the set.

In the third set, Beaver gained a 4-3 lead early on off of a Gamble kill. However Mont Alto tied the score up at four, after a Beaver service error and never trailed again as they won the last set 25-17, and a 3-0 match sweep.

On the day, Beaver had 8 kills and 7 assists from freshman Rachel Grubbs (Freeport/Sarver, PA). Sophomre Gina Richman (Union/Edinburg, PA) added 5 digs an assist, while Gamble added 4 kills, and Ella Epps (Penn Hills/Pittsburgh, PA) had 5 digs and an ace.

Beaver will head to Penn State New Kensington on Sunday, September 25, 2011 for a neutral site quad match as they will face Penn State Schulykill (12 p.m.) and Penn State Brandywine (1:30 p.m.).