Volleyball Edges Defiance; Falls to Geneva

Volleyball Edges Defiance; Falls to Geneva
ERIE, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend women's volleyball team split a pair of matches on the second day of the 2015 Behrend Invitational held on Saturday in the Junker Center.

Meredith Snyder (Parker, PA/Allegheny Clarion Valley) and Lindsay Bean (Waterford, PA/Fort LeBoeuf) each hit .367 with 15 and 14 kills, respectively, to help the Lions (5-4) defeat Defiance (21-25, 25-21, 25-21, 25-18). Behrend fell 3-0 to Geneva, the tournament champions, in the nightcap (25-19, 25-10, 25-11).

Paige Scurpa (Sharpsville, PA/Sharpsville) was named to the All-Tournament team for her efforts this weekend. She tallied 10 kills in each of the matches today, while adding 27 digs.

The Lions were slow to start the first match, surrendering the first set 25-21. Once warmed up, Behrend won the next three sets for its fifth win of the season. In the second set, the Lions never trailed and earned the final five of six points with two coming on kills by Snyder and Scurpa for a 25-21 decision.

The third set was just as close down the stretch like the second. Tied at 21-all, Behrend forced three errors by Defiance and Ashley Solo (Irwin, PA/Penn-Trafford) knocked down the final point at 25-21.

The Lions put away Defiance in the fourth set, behind the serving of Allania Banta (Waterford, PA/Fort LeBoeuf) for the final seven points. After a service ace and a timeout by the Yellow Jackets, Banta registered a kill. Defiance recorded three attack errors and Bean got her 14th kill for a 25-18 win.

Banta finished the first match with a career-high 27 digs. Courtney Hopson (Erie, PA/McDowell) was close to Banta with 24 digs.

Geneva got the best of the Lions in the second match of the day. Behind the hitting of Erica Hughes and setting of Rachel Netherland, the Golden Tornadoes went undefeated at the tournament.

Hopson led with 15 digs and Banta collected 14 digs. Hannah Saunders (Elizabeth, PA/Elizabeth Forward) contributed 19 assists and Scurpa paced Behrend with 10 kills.

The Lions return to action Tuesday at Hiram. Match begins at 7 p.m.

Final Records
Geneva 4-0 (Tournament Champions)
Bethany 4-0
Behrend 2-2
Defiance 1-3
Frostburg 1-3
D'Youville 0-4

All-Tournament Team
Geneva: Rachel Netherland, Brie Dickson
Bethany: Julia Mouch, Dylana McKenzie
Frostburg: Maddie Torres
Defiance: Marissa Winday
D'Youville: Kaylee Stewart
Behrend: Paige Scurpa