Lions Defeat La Roche in Five; Fall to Oberlin

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - The Penn State Behrend women's volleyball team split a pair of matches at La Roche, defeating the Redhawks 3-2 and then falling to Oberlin 3-1 in the nightcap.

The Lions (14-5, 3-1 AMCC) used five sets to get past La Roche. Behrend fell in the first set 25-14, before winning 25-18. The went down again (26-24) and then won the final two sets 25-21 and 15-12 for the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) victory.  The Yeowomen managed a 26-28, 25-21, 25-17 and 25-14 win in the second match.

On the day, Alyssa Samarco (Plum, PA/Plum) tallied 41 digs, 21 kills and three aces. Meredith Snyder (Parker, PA/Allegheny Clarion Valley) also added 42 assists, 20 kills and eight digs. Both had a double-double in the win over the Redhawks.

In the first match, the Lions battled back from a 2-1 deficit to get the conference win. After a close third set, Paige Scurpa (Sharpsville, PA/Sharpsville) helped Behrend even the match at 2-all with a pair of kills for the Lions final offensive points for a 25-21 win.

The decisive set was as close as the first four. Tied at 11-all, Samarco recorded her final kill of the match and a bad set by La Roche gave the Lions a 13-11 lead. Another error and an Allania Banta (Waterford, PA/Fort LeBoeuf) ace sealed the victory.

Banta finished with 17 digs, while Courtney Hopson (Erie, PA/McDowell) tallied 20 digs.

Behrend got by Oberlin 28-26 in the first set, but the Yeowomen were able to win the next three sets. Lauren Blachowski (Newtown, PA/Council Rock) led with seven kills, while Snyder registered 22 assists, five kills, two aces and two blocks. Samarco recorded 19 digs and six kills.

The Lions return to action on Tuesday against Fredonia. Match time is 7 p.m.