Women’s Volleyball opens 2024 season 2-1 at USCAA Tip-Off Tournament

MONACA, Pa. --- Carlow University women's volleyball went 2-1 to open the 2024 season at the USCAA Tip-Off Tournament, hosted by Penn State Beaver Aug. 30 and 31.

The Celtics won the tournament the past two years, but the young team is still finding its footing this early in the season.

Carlow defeated Penn State Greater Allegheny, 3-1, before falling 3-0 to Florida National University Friday. The Celtics swept Penn State Fayette in a consolation game Saturday afternoon.

Junior Rebecca Hess (New Alexandria, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) led the Celtics with 32 kills, 44 digs and eight service aces following Carlow's final game of the tournament.

Alison Humberston (Uniontown, Pa./Laurel Highlands HS) tallied 28 kills, while Megan Cooper (North Canton, Ohio/Jackson HS) and Javonna Perkins (Pittsburgh, Pa./Obama Academy) each recorded 14.

Kelsey Sufak (Allison Park, Pa./Deer Lakes HS) added 40 digs and six aces, and Perkins and Paige Keller (Liberty Borough, Pa./South Allegheny HS) led Carlow with eight and six blocks, respectively. Three other Celtics recorded double-digit digs in the effort.

vs. Penn State Greater Allegheny: W, 3-1

The Celtics led the majority of the first set before the Lions (1-2) rallied to tie the game at 22-all. Greater Allegheny forced a win-by-two situation, but Carlow came out on top, 28-26, after a kill from Hess and a service ace by Sufak.

Carlow started the second set with a 7-2 lead enroute to a 25-18 win to lead the match, 2-0. The Lions did not go down without a fight and won the third set, 25-17.

Carlow trailed, 9-0, in the fourth set, but clawed its way back after trailing most of the game. A big swing from Perkins set off a 5-0 run that gave Carlow a 19-18 advantage. The teams traded leads down to the wire. Although Carlow led, 24-21, the Lions went on a four-point run to gain a 25-24 advantage.

Humberston landed three kills in a row to secure Carlow's 27-25 set victory.

Gianna Tour led the Lions with 10 kills, and Hannah Kessler added 30 digs.

vs. Florida National: L, 3-0

Carlow rallied and played the eventual tournament champions Florida National in the next game.

The Conquistadors (8-1) swept Carlow, holding the Celtics to single digit kills in each set.

Florida National recorded twice as many kills as the Celtics and held a 10-2 advantage in service aces.

Carlow kept it close the begin the second set before Florida National went on a 10-2 run to take the lead. Almost every Conquistador tallied a kill in the team effort.

vs. Penn State Fayette: W, 3-0

The Celtics swept the Lions (2-1) in a consolation game Saturday afternoon.

Both teams kept it close throughout the first set, but Carlow went on a 6-1 run to end the game, 25-20.

The second set resulted in the same score after the Celtics went on an 8-1 run to extend their lead to 22-14.

A Fayette service error in the third set kicked off a 6-0 run that gave Carlow the 25-13 win.

Kamden Miller led the Lions with eight kills and Tyannah Eddings added 18 digs.

The Celtics return to the Gary B. Keefer Wellness Center for a 7 p.m. match against Penn State Beaver Sept. 5.