Volleyball Defeats New Rochelle; Falls To Kean

UNION, NJ – Alyssa Samarco (Plum, PA/Plum) recorded 30 kills and 28 digs to help the Penn State Behrend women's volleyball split a pair of non-conference matches on the second day of the Kean Tournament on Saturday.

The Lions (16-8) defeated New Rochelle 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-16) and fell to Kean 3-1 (23-25, 24-26, 25-18, 18-25).

Samarco and Lauren Blachowski (Newtown, PA/Council Rock North) each posted a double-double in the win against New Rochelle. Samarco posted team-highs 18 digs and 17 kills, while Blachowski added 15 digs and 11 kills.

In a close first set, Behrend was down 23-19 and after a Samarco kill to get a sideout Rachel Frye (Leechburg, PA/Kiski Area) served the next five points with an ace for the final point and the win.

The Lions were down 8-7 in the second and got three straight kills and an ace from Samarco to take the lead for good and post a 25-20 victory for a 2-0 lead.

Samarco helped Behrend close out the third set with five kills in the last nine points for 25-16 decision.

Against Kean, Samarco led with 13 kills and 10 digs. Meredith Snyder (Parker, PA/Allegheny Clarion Valley) posted 22 assists, nine kills, seven digs and five blocks.

The Lions took a commanding 23-11 lead in the third set to take one from Kean, but could not get the fourth set win to force a deciding game.

Hannah Saunders (Elizabeth, PA/Elizabeth Forward) added 15 assists and Courtney Hopson (Erie, PA/McDowell) recorded 12 digs in the loss.  

Behrend returns to action on Wednesday at Hilbert. Match begins at 7 p.m.