Women’s Volleyball bested by Bearcats in four sets

PITTSBURGH --- Carlow University women's volleyball fell, 3-1, to visiting Saint Vincent College Friday night.

The Bearcats (5-9) won the first two sets, 25-18 and 25-17, before Carlow (5-8) claimed the third set, 25-23. Saint Vincent won the final set of the match, 25-18.

Rebecca Hess (New Alexandria, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) led the Celtics with a double-double 12 kills and 15 digs. Giovanna Jones (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe HS) added 14 digs, and Javonna Perkins (Pittsburgh, Pa./Obama Academy) contributed four blocks in the effort.

Saint Vincent recorded 13 service aces on the night and held Carlow to single digit kills in every set except the third.

The teams traded leads and tied the game several times throughout the first set. Tied 18-all, a kill from Maya Martell set off a 7-0 run to end the game 25-18 in the favor of the Bearcats.

The second set started out in the same fashion, as Saint Vincent gained a 16-11 advantage. The Celtics trailed 20-13 and battled back to a five-point deficit before the Bearcats closed the set, 25-17.

Carlow jumped out to a lead in the third set as a 5-0 Saint Vincent run handed the Bearcats a 10-9 advantage. A service error tied the game at 10-all, and a kill from Alison Humberston (Uniontown, Pa./Laurel Highlands HS) put Carlow in the lead once again. Saint Vincent tied it 11-11 but a kill and four errors allowed Carlow to take a 16-12 lead.

Both teams tied the score several times, with the Bearcats coming out ahead, 23-22, late in the game. Kills from Humberston and Perkins put the Celtics up, 24-23, and Saint Vincent handed Carlow the win with an attack error to end the set.

The Celtics jumped out to an 8-4 lead in the fourth set before a kill by Dakota Hershberger set off a 7-1 run for the Bearcats.

Saint Vincent led, 20-11, as the Celtics attempted a comeback late in the game. Carlow's 7-3 run saw the Celtics trailing, 23-18, but back-to-back kills from Meegan Williams ended the set and the match in favor of the Bearcats.

Williams led Saint Vincent with 18 kills, while Kaelyn Staples-Klasnic and Hershberger added 14 and 12 kills, respectively. Stacie Ramos tallied 16 digs and Martell contributed seven service aces toward the win.

The Celtics travel to the University of Mount Union for a tri-match Saturday, Oct. 5.