MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Allegheny volleyball team hosted Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) foe Geneva as well as nonconference opponent Carnegie Mellon Friday evening (Oct. 14), picking up a sweep against Geneva before falling to Carnegie Mellon in a close five set battle.
 
Game One – Allegheny 3, Geneva 0 (25-13, 25-16, 25-17)
 
The Gators jumped out to a 12-5 lead in the opening set before a Geneva timeout. Allegheny continued to build their lead after the timeout as it grew to nine, 18-9, before the Golden Tornadoes called their final timeout of the set. Down the stretch, the Gators lead grew to as much as 12 as they captured the set 25-13.
 
The Golden Tornadoes had the early advantage in the second set, taking a 10-6 lead. Following a timeout, Allegheny fought back to tie the set at 12 before jumping in front 18-13 after an 8-1 run. That run proved to be enough for the Gators as they rode the momentum to a 25-16 second set win. 
 
Once again, Geneva had the early advantage in the third set, 8-2, before a 7-0 run off of serves by Alejandra Fernandez (Caguas, Puerto Rico/Commonwealth Parkville) gave the Gators the lead. After trading points, Allegheny rattled off five straight points to push ahead, 14-9.  The Gators controlled the flow of the game the rest of the way, taking the set 25-17, and collecting the PAC victory.
 
Inside the Box

• Dagney Javes (Frederick, Colo./Dawson School) had 10 kills with four blocks.
• Angelee Bawek (Goodyear, Ariz./Estrella Foothills) also tallied 10 kills with seven digs.
• Carly Beers (Warren, Pa./Warren) added seven kills.
• Izzy Gray (Erie, Pa./Harbor Creek) had a team-high 16 digs and 14 assists.
• Meagan Robare (Moon Township, Pa./Moon Area) registered 13 assists.
• Jacy Diaz (Barranquitas, Puerto Rico/Gallatin (Tenn.)) totaled 13 digs.
• Fernandez had 10 digs with four aces.

Game Two – Carnegie Mellon 3, Allegheny 2 (26-24, 25-19, 20-25, 21-20, 15-11)
 
Carnegie Mellon, a 2023 NCAA Division III tournament team, got out to a quick start, taking a 7-1 lead. The Gators fought back, going on a 10-3 run to gain the lead at 11-10. After trading points, the Gators went on another run, this time 4-1, to move ahead 17-13. The Tartans battled back, however, tying the set at 18 all. The teams continued to exchange leads down the stretch. Tied at 24, the Tartans won the final two points of the set, taking it 26-24.
 
The back-and-forth play carried over to the second set until the Tartans went on a 3-0 run to take control, 8-5. Similar to the opening set, the Gators fought back to tie it at 11. The set remained close, but a couple small runs by Carnegie Mellon helped them win the set, 25-19.
 
The Gators held a small lead early in the third set. After the Tartans tied it at nine, Allegheny went on a 6-1 run to push ahead, 15-10. The Gators would lead by as much as seven on their way to a 25-20 set win, bringing the overall match to 2-1.
 
Allegheny's momentum carried over to the fourth set as they built an 11-6 lead before Carnegie Mellon called a timeout. The Tartans slowly chipped away at the deficit, bringing the match to 16-15 before the Gators called a timeout. After the timeout, the Gators went on a 3-1 run to re-establish a 19-16 advantage. Carnegie Mellon pulled within a couple points late in the set, but the Gators held on for a 25-21 win, forcing a deciding fifth set.
 
The Tartans opened the final set with a 7-2 lead through a pair of Allegheny timeouts. The Gators battled back to make it an 11-8 score. However, Allegheny was unable to overcome the initial Tartan run as they fell 15-11.
 
Inside the Box

• Bawek led the team with 17 kills, 12 digs and three aces.
• Javes had 14 kills with six block assists and three aces.
• Sydney Kirk (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seton LaSalle Catholic) finished with 11 kills and six block assists.
• Skyler Fatola (Queen Creek, Ariz./Eastmark) registered six kills and three blocks.
• Robare tallied 29 assists while Gray had 16 assists and 10 digs.
• Diaz led Allegheny with 25 digs.
• Fernandez had a career-high 25 digs.
• Duru Akbas (Ankara, Turkey/Layton Christian Academy ((Utah)) totaled eight digs and three aces.

News and Notes

• Allegheny moved to 15-5 on the season and 2-0 in PAC play.
• The Gators are now 13-8 all-time against Geneva and 9-11 all-time against the Tartans. 

Up Next
The Gators are back at home next Friday (Oct. 11), playing host to Bethany.