MEADVILLE, Pa. -- The Allegheny College volleyball team began play at the 2022 Allegheny Invitational by splitting a pair of matches against Mount Aloysius College and Hiram College on Saturday evening.

Allegheny 3, Mount Aloysius 0 (25-8, 29-27, 25-17)
The Gators (5-7) opened their home tournament with one of the more lopsided sets they've played all year. Allegheny sided out at 88% and posted 12 kills with just one error en route to a 25-8 first-set win.

Although the second set was much tighter at 29-27, the Gators recovered to finish the sweep in three.

Dagney Javes (Frederick, Colo./Dawson School) and India McCruter (Columbus, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson) helped the Gators seal the final set. Javes earned a team-high four kills in the set, while McCruter floored three kills, and the duo combined for five total blocks. Solid defense on the block limited the Mounties (1-8) to a negative attack percentage in the last set.

Hiram 3, Allegheny 1 (25-13, 25-17, 24-26, 25-15)
Former North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) rival, Hiram, got the best of Allegheny to close Friday night's matches. The Terriers (8-3) frustrated the Gators from the start and held them to a season-low -.007 hitting percentage with 35 errors.

Allegheny temporarily shook off the slow start in an exciting third set. The Gators produced their only positive hitting percentage of the contest at .222, led by Cheyenne Wilson (Chico, Calif./Pleasant Valley) with five kills on 11 total swings.

Inside the Box vs. Mount Aloysius

• Javes (9), McCruter (8), and Wilson (7) paced the Gators in kills.
• Setter Meagan Robare (Moon Township, Pa./Moon Area) had a busy night with five kills in addition to 13 assists and three blocks.
• Leah Ungashick (Akron, Ohio/Coventry) paced Allegheny with 15 assists.
• Wilson and Jacy Diaz (Barranquitas, Puerto Rico/Gallatin (Tenn.)) each collected eight digs.

Inside the Box vs. Hiram

• Allegheny only hit above .000 in one set against Hiram.
• The Gators finished with an 11-to-5 lead in blocks, and both teams had eight aces.
• Wilson's 13 kills led all scorers in the nightcap.
• Diaz (20), Wilson (11), and Cetta Panza (10) each logged double-digit digs.
• With six total blocks, Javes led all Gators.

News and Notes

• For the fourth time this season, the Gators swept an opponent with a 3-0 final score.
• Allegheny has swept Mount Aloysius in back-to-back seasons.
• The Gators tied their single-match season-high with a .319 attack percentage against Mount Aloysius.
• Allegheny's 12 aces against the Mounties are the most in a match since tossing 14 against Penn State-Shenango on October 7, 2021.

Up Next
On Saturday, September 18, the Allegheny Invitational concludes with matches against Waynesburg (11:00 a.m.) and Fredonia State (1:00 p.m.).