GROVE CITY, Pa. -- The Allegheny College volleyball team split a midweek non-conference tri-match against a pair of Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) opponents on Wednesday evening.

The Gators (3-3) began with a 3-0 sweep of Thiel College before dropping a four-set decision to the host Wolverines from Grove City College.

Allegheny 3, Thiel 0
In a neutral-site matchup, the Gators got the better of the Tomcats (0-6) in straight sets, 25-18, 25-21, and 25-14. 

Allegheny set the tone from the get-go with four consecutive points to start the first set. Sydney Kirk (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seton LaSalle Catholic) opened the match with a kill and then helped Angelee Bawek (Goodyear, Ariz./Estrella Foothills) build a wall at the net for a double block. The fourth point of the rally came from Duru Akbas (Ankara, Turkey/Layton Christian Academy (Utah)), who tossed an ace to give the Gators a lead they'd never relinquish in the first set.

The second and third sets also featured early multi-point rallies by Allegheny. In the second, the Gators quickly turned a 2-2 tie into an 8-2 advantage. Down 6-3 in the third, the Gators won seven consecutive points and took a 10-6 lead.

Grove City 3, Allegheny 1
Grove City (6-1) outhit the Gators in every set but the third, during which both teams had identical attack percentages of .025. That would also be the only set Allegheny could take from the Wolverines, who won the night 25-21, 25-14, 22-25, 25-17.

Looking to spark a comeback, Allegheny won eight of the first 10 points to start the third set. Although Grove City was able to even the score at 12-all, the Gators were able to pull back ahead, 17-12, with a 5-0 rally that featured three kills from Bawek.

Despite the rally to win the third, Grove City closed the victory in the fourth by ending the set with eight of the last nine points.

Inside the Box Score vs. Thiel

• The Gators hit .158 as a team and imited Thiel to a -.091 attack percentage.
• Bawek paced Allegheny with 11 kills in addition to seven digs and two aces.
• Emma Chambers (Stoutsville, Ohio/Amanda Clearcreek) had a team-high four blocks along with seven kills.
• Izzy Gray (Erie, Pa./Harbor Creek) had a team-high 19 assists with seven digs and two kills.

Inside the Box Score vs. Grove City

• Dagney Javes (Frederick, Colo./Dawson School) amassed a team-high 14 kills with three blocks.
• Bawek was second with 10 kills.
• Gray picked up a match-high 32 assists and a double-double with 12 digs.
• Jacy Diaz (Barranquitas, Puerto Rico/Gallatin (Tenn.)) led all Gators with a match-best 24 digs.

News and Notes

• Through six matches in 2023, the Gators have split each day and remain at .500 with a 3-3 record.
• The win over Thiel was the second 3-0 victory of the 2023 season.
• Gray's 32 assists and 12 digs against GCC are both career highs.
• Bawek has double-digit kills in four consecutive matches.
• Diaz's 24 digs are a new season-best.

Up Next
Allegheny heads to Cleveland, Ohio, for the Case Western Reserve University Quad on Friday, September 8, and Saturday, September 9. The first bout of the weekend is against Defiance College at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.