Beaver advances in PSUAC Conference Playoffs

By: Matylda Zamudio

DuBois, Pa.—It was all or nothing for the Penn State Beaver women's volleyball team Wednesday night, as the team went head to head against the ladies of Penn State DuBois, who captured the first seed in the west, in round one of the PSUAC Conference Playoffs. The two teams meet twice during the regular season with DuBois taking both games against Beaver. The Lady Lions will battle to extend their post-season and take their first win against DuBois this season.

In the first set, Beaver landed first of the broad thanks to a quick service ace scored by Alexis Albrecht, who then led Beaver to an early 7-0 lead. DuBois battled back and cut Beaver's lead to only one point at 13-12 midway through the set, but a kill from Brooke Tomasko followed by another ace by Albrecht got Beaver up 15-12. Then, Beaver allowed a big run by Dubois to tie the game at 18-18 before the team called a time-out. DuBois kept the hot-hand took from Beaver on the next rally (18-19). However, Beaver didn't waver and a kill from Tomasko tied the game again at 22-22. Beaver's defense locked-in and the team hung on, pulling away with a tight-set win at 26-24.

In the second set, Beaver started to fall behind early at 2-5, but the ladies recovered quickly and tied the set at 6-6 in the next few minutes. Beaver got hot midway through the set and took a three-point lead at 16-13, and then a five-point lead at 22-17. In the final minutes of the set, Amanda Mike throw down a late-set kill to point Beaver a set-point (24-18). Beaver then took the second set from DuBois, 25-20.

The first minutes of the third set mirrored the second for Beaver, as the team, once again, fell behind early at 2-7. But Beaver turned the tables around and got within one point of DuBois thanks to a kill from Stephanie Stadjuhar (8-9). Then Beaver scored the next two points to take the lead at 10-9, prompting DuBois to take its first timeout. Then, Beaver extended the lead to three points, but DuBois fought back and tied the set at 15-15. The set went back and forth for the next few minutes until Mike scored a kill to give Beaver the lead at 19-17 and then again to a three-point lead at 21-19. At 22-19, DuBois took a final time-out. Beaver went on to win the third set, 25-22.

The lady lions performed great tonight: The Beaver ladies played as one unit and have one of their best defensive performances of the season. Tomasko led for Beaver in kills with 15, followed by Mike with 6 kills. Emily Keener allotted a commendable 23 assists and Albrecht finished with 8 digs for the night.

After tonight's epic victory, Beaver advances and is headed to the PSUAC Tournament Semifinals on Monday, Oct. 29, where the ladies will compete against the number one seed in the conference, Penn State Brandywine, and fight to keep their post-season alive. Game time is at 7 p.m.