Lady Lions fall in conference match against Fayette, 3-0

By: Matylda Zamudio

Monaca, Pa.—The Penn State Beaver women's volleyball team hosted Penn State Fayette on Saturday in the team's last conference game of the regular season. Beaver faced conference rival Fayette earlier in the season and lost 3-0. With the last game of the regular season upon them, the ladies aim to end it strong before heading into the post-season.

The adulation of the crowd added to the tension of this match as the game clock sounded. Off the first rally, Alexis Albrecht scored a quick service ace to set the tone, but Fayette answered right back to immediately tie the game (1-1). The stayed tied for the next two rallies, but then Fayette hit two balls out of bounds, and Amanda Mike scored a fast kill, giving Beaver an earlier three-point lead. But Fayette fought back and tied the score at 8-8. The teams swapped the lead back and forth for the next few rallies to until Brooke Tomasko scored a kill to give Beaver the lead at 12-11. However, Fayette got hot and went on a five-point run at 14-19. But the Lady Lions didn't let the five-point deficit hinder them and battled back, including a late kill from Mike, to chop Fayette's lead down to only two points before the Fayette called a time-out. Right off the bat, Stephanie Stadjudar threw down a kill to put Beaver within a point of Fayette. But Fayette held on to the lead and pulled away with the set 20-25. 

Beaver took the lead earlier in the second set at 3-1, but Fayette responded by scoring the next two points to tie the game earlier (3-3). Beaver then allowed a four-point run and before calling a time-out (3-7). Allotting a few errors at the net and a few kills from Fayette, the Lady Lions found themselves down by eight points midway through the second set (6-14). But Beaver fought back and cut the deficit to five points thanks to a block from Maria Slater, prompting Fayette to call another time-out (18-23). Beaver dug deep to go on a three-point run at were within striking distance (20-23). However, Fayette held on and took the set 21-25.

The third set went back and forth between the rivals in the first few minutes. However, the ladies quickly found themselves in a three-point hole, allowing another run by Fayette. As the game continued, Fayette made errors and helped Beaver cut the lead down to one point midway through the set, causing Fayette to call another time-out. Then, Beaver scored a service ace to tie up the game (18-18). But in the final minutes of the game, Fayette's offense took over the game and won the set 19-25, leaving Beaver's final score 3-0 for the game.

Despite the outcome of the game, Beaver kept the sets close and did a great job recovering after big runs. The young roster played well and close the regular season with a spot in the playoffs. Senior Brooke Tomasko was also honored tonight for her dedication and tenor with the team.

With the regular season now over, the Penn State Beaver women's volleyball team are headed to round one of the PSUAC Conference Playoffs. The ladies will face off against Penn State Dubois on Oct. 24 at 7 p.m.