Women’s Volleyball falls to NCAA DII Shaw in USCAA pool play

LEMONT FURNACE, Pa. --- Carlow University women's volleyball fell, 3-0, to No. 2-ranked Shaw (N.C.) University in USCAA Championship tournament pool play action at Penn State Fayette Thursday evening.

The Bears (23-4) dominated much of the game over the No. 6-seed Celtics, but Carlow (7-18) did not go down without a fight. Shaw won, 25-14, 25-10 and 25-19.

In the third set, Head Coach Julie Gaul adjusted the rotation to keep senior outside hitter Alison Humberston (Uniontown, Pa./Laurel Highlands HS) on the floor more often. Humberston hit .211 and led the Celtics with eight kills on the night. Carlow recorded 11 kills in the third set and hustled to keep rallies going throughout the entire match.

Leading 11-9 in the third set, the Bears strung together a 6-0 run to push their advantage to 17-9. The Celtics responded with a 7-3 run of their own to cut Shaw's lead to 20-16. An over pass from Shaw in the next rally sailed toward Rebecca Hess (New Alexandria, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic), who slammed the ball home for the unassisted kill to see the Celtics trailing by three. Javonna Perkins (Pittsburgh, Pa./Obama Academy) and Hess landed a huge block to end the next play and keep Carlow's momentum going with the Celtics down, 20-18.

Shaw picked up a kill and an ace to pull ahead, 22-18, before the Celtics saved a big rally. Both teams flew across the court during the rally, culminating with Claire Yezovich (Irwin, Pa./Woodland Hills HS) setting Hess for another kill.

A kill, a Carlow error and an ace ended the third set, 25-19, in favor of the Bears.

Shaw held the Celtics to single digit kills in the first two sets and hit .329 on the night with 11 service aces.

Maelie Chupin led the Bears with 10 kills and five aces, while Kalia Morris added 10 digs.

The Celtics continue pool play with a 12 p.m. match against Lyon (Ark.) College tomorrow.