ERIE, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend women's volleyball team suffered a heartbreaking loss in five games to Penn State Altoona in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) action on Saturday.
Altoona narrowly defeated the Lions in the first two games, winning 26-24 and 25-19. Behrend proved in the next two games they should have won the first two with scores of 25-12 and 25-18 to force the deciding game, but fell 15-9.
Stefanie Kelly, who played the libero in the final three games, made a team-high 27 digs and four aces. Kelly Treser had 13 kills and three blocks, while Chelsea Magnusen and Carly Higham tallied 21 and 19 assists, respectively.
In the first game, the Lions had a 12-9 lead but Altoona battled back to take a 20-16 edge. Behrend won the next eight out of 12 points to knot the game at 24-all. A side out and a kill by Samantha Link sealed game one at 26-24.
Altoona never trailed in game two, taking a five-point advantage at 16-11. Behrend got within two points, however they wouldn't get any closer and Abby VanLuvanee's kill made it 25-19. In the third game, Kelly served six straight points to close out game three at 25-12. The Lions trailed early in game four and used a 10-2 run to take a 20-12 lead. A Danielle Woods ace was the final point Behrend needed to win 25-18.
Woods posted 26 digs to move her into fifth place on the all-time digs list with 1,496 career digs.
The Lions return to action on Tuesday night at Hilbert. Game time is 7 p.m.
