MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Allegheny volleyball team opened play at their annual home invitational Friday (Sept. 15), picking up wins against Wilmington and Fredonia.
 
Allegheny 3, Wilmington 1 (27-29, 25-22, 25-18, 25-21)
 
The opening set went back-and-forth all the way till the end. The teams kept trading set points until the Quakers tallied kills on two straight points, taking the set 29-17.
 
The momentum carried over to the second set for the Quakers as they took control midway through. Trailing 19-13, the Gators fought back, tying the game at 20 on a Jacy Diaz (Barranquitas, Puerto Rico/Gallatin (Tenn.)) ace. Allegheny closed the set on a 6-2 run, capped off by an Emma Chambers (Stoutsville, Ohio/Amanda Clearcreek) kill to tie the match.
 
The teams found themselves knotted at 15 apiece in the third set before the Gators rattled off a 3-0 run to take the lead. The Quakers were limited to just three more points in the set as the Gators won 25-18.
 
The Gators had an early lead in the fourth set, 12-6, but a 4-0 Wilmington run brought about an Allegheny timeout. After the timeout, the Quakers gained a 17-14 lead. Once more, the Gators fought back, tying the set at 19 apiece. After exchanging points, the Gators ended the set on a 4-1 run, clinching the match.
 
Inside the Box

• Dagney Javes (Frederick, Colo./Dawson School) led the Gators with 16 kills and three blocks.
• Angelee Bawek (Goodyear, Ariz./Estrella Foothills) also had double-figure kills, tallying 13 while also picking up 12 digs.
• Sydney Kirk (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seton LaSalle Catholic) had 11 kills while Chambers had 10.
• Izzy Gray (Erie, Pa./Harbor Creek) had 27 assists while Meagan Robare (Moon Township, Pa./Moon Area) had 17.
• Diaz led the Gators with 29 digs while Alejandra Fernandez (Caguas, Puerto Rico/Commonwealth Parkville) had 14. 

Allegheny 3 Fredonia 1 (25-13, 25-13, 26-24)
 
The Gators got off to a quick start as a 10-0 run put them in firm control. The lead would grow to as much as 13 as they won the set 25-13.
 
After a close start to the set, the Gators used a 6-0 to pull ahead, 15-7. They rode that advantage until the end of the set, winning once again 25-13.
 
The third set was close as the teams were tied at 20. However, the Gators went on a 4-1 run to gain a match point. Fredonia staved off three match points to tie it at 24. An Elizabeth Lubold (Indiana, Pa./Indiana Area) kill gave the Gators another match point, which Chambers capitalized on with a kill for the win.
 
Inside the Box

• Javes and Chambers each accounted for 10 kills in the match.
• Bawek added nine kills while Kirk had eight.
• Robare led the team with 16 assists while Gray had 12 and Leah Ungaschick (Akron, Ohio/Coventry) tallied seven.
• Diaz had four aces to go alongside a team-high 23 digs. 

News and Notes

• Allegheny improved to 8-4 on the season.
• The Gators are now 2-0 all-time against Wilmington and 17-2 against Fredonia. 

Up Next
The Gators conclude their home invitational Saturday (Sept. 16) with games against Pitt Greensburg and John Carroll.