LATROBE, Pa. – The Allegheny College volleyball team closed out the Bearcat Challenge with a split this Saturday, finishing the invitational with a 3-1 record for the second consecutive year.
The Gators (3-2, 0-0 NCAC) dropped their opening match to Muskingum, but rebounded to sweep Carlow in the night cap.
Sophomore libero
Terra Schall was Allegheny's representative on the All-Tournament Team as she collected 81 digs over the four matches, averaging an impressive 6.75 per set. She tallied 29 digs against the Muskies, marking the fifth time in her career she topped the 20-dig mark in a match.
The Gators' opening match with Muskingum saw many extended rallies as both teams totaled at least 85 digs in the three-set contest. Along with Schall, sophomore defensive specialist
Kylee Karczewski (17), senior outside hitter
Taylor Samuel (14), freshman defensive specialist
Rachel Slotterback (11), and sophomore setter
Justine Kelly (10) each collected double-digit digs.
After the defeat to Muskingum, Allegheny rebounded with a convincing three-set victory against Carlow.
The Gators were clicking on all cylinders offensively in the first set as they hit at a .433 clip as a team. Samuel converted on half of her 10 swings, while her classmate
Julia Weeks found the floor on all three of her attempts. Sophomore middle hitter
Leah Franzluebbers also tallied three kills in the stanza on just four swings.
Allegheny showed resilience late in the middle frame, coming back from 24-22 to take the set 26-24.
A kill from sophomore right side
Morgan Bush made it 17-12 Gators, but the Celtics responded with an 11-5 run to take the lead at 23-22. An attack error by Franzluebbers set up set point for Carlow, spurring Allegheny head coach
Bridget Sheehan to call timeout.
The break seemed to refocus the Gators and threw the Celtics out of rhythm. A setting error pulled Allegheny within one, then back-to-back service aces by Samuel put the Gators on top. The ensuing set point saw Carlow put together a quality opportunity, but Amber Bussard's swing found netting in front of Bush and senior middle hitter
Sarah Swartz.
There was no drama in the closing frame as the Gators coasted to a 25-10 victory. Allegheny rattled off three different runs of at least four points, including a six-point swing at 17-7. Weeks paced the Gators with four kills in the stanza, while middle hitters Franzluebbers and Swartz connected on three swings each.
Franzluebbers led Allegheny with 10 kills against the Celtics, while Samuel and Weeks each tallied nine. Kelly facilitated the majority of the Gators' offense, dishing out 33 assists in the victory. The sophomore also collected her seventh and eighth career double-doubles over the two matches.
Karczewski paced Allegheny with 20 digs against Carlow. Samuel and Swartz each collected two block assists.
Allegheny returns home on next Wednesday, Sept. 9 as Grove City makes the short drive to the David V. Wise Center. Opening serve between the Gators and Wolverines is set for 7:00 p.m.
