SANDUSKY, OHIO – The Allegheny volleyball team opened their 2024 campaign at the Great Lakes Cross Over in Ohio Friday (Aug. 30), defeating Heidelberg and Muskingum.
 
Game One - Allegheny 3, Heidelberg 2 (25-23, 25-16, 21-25, 22-25, 15-13)
 
The Gators held a small lead early in set one before Heidelberg tied it midway through. The Student Princes gained the lead before Allegheny fought back to tie it at 22. The Gators won three of the next four points, capped off by a Carlee Pepperman (Bellefonte, Pa./Bellefonte Area) kill to take the opening set.
 
The second set belonged to the Gators as they led by as much as nine as they moved ahead 2-0 with a 25-16 set win.
 
The third set went back-and-forth. After exchanging leads multiple times, a late surge by Heidelberg gave them a 25-21 win to extend the match.
 
The Student Princes gained a lead midway through the fourth set and did not look back as they took it 25-22 to force a fifth and deciding set.
 
The teams were deadlocked early in the final set. Tied at seven, the Gators rattled off three straight points. After exchanging points, Heidelberg went on a 4-0 run to take a 13-12 lead. The Gators fought back, winning the final three points off kills by Carly Beers (Warren, Pa./Warren), Dagney Javes (Frederick, Colo./Dawson School) and Pepperman to take the match, 3-2.
 
Inside the Box

• Angelee Bawek (Goodyear, Ariz./Estrella Foothills) led the Gators with 19 kills.
• Javes added 16 kills.
• Pepperman ended with 10 kills and nine digs. 
• Beers had eight kills while Skyler Fatola (Queen Creek, Ariz./Eastmark) had six.
• Izzy Gray (Erie, Pa./Harbor Creek) had 26 assists and 17 digs while Meagan Robare (Moon Township, Pa./Moon Area) provided 18 assists.
• Jacy Diaz (Barranquitas, Puerto Rico/Gallatin (Tenn.)) led the backline with 30 digs and three aces.
• Duru Akbas (Ankara, Turkey/Layton Christian Academy ((Utah)) had 12 digs and tied Diaz with three aces.
• Alejandra Fernandez (Caguas, Puerto Rico/Commonwealth Parkville) was also in double-digits with 10 digs. 

Game Two - Allegheny 3, Muskingum 2 (14-25, 25-18, 25-16, 17-25, 15-9)
 
The Muskies built an early lead in the opening set, turning it into a 25-14 win.
 
Allegheny bounced back in a big way in set two. They never trailed in the set and led by as much as 12 as they evened the match with a 25-18 win.
 
Trailing 6-5 early in the third set, the Gators scored five straight points to take control. That lead grew to as much as six late in the half as they moved ahead with a 25-16 set win.
 
Muskingum fought back in the fourth set, taking it 25-17 to force a deciding fifth set.
 
The Gators jumped out to a 6-2 lead in the final set, leading to a Muskie timeout. Allegheny maintained that lead as a pair of aces by Akbas gave them a match point at 14-9. Similar to their first match of the day, Pepperman provided the final kill of the match as the Gators opened their season with a sweep.
 
Inside the Box

• Javes led the team with 22 kills.
• Bawek was also in double-digits with 17 kills.
• Robare led the setters with 28 assists while Gray added 15.
• Diaz put together another good game to lead the backline, collecting 32 digs.
• Fernandez had 17 digs while Akbas had 11.

News and Notes

• Allegheny starts the season at 2-0 for the first time since 2005.
• The Gators are now 8-3 all-time against Heidelberg and 4-20 against Muskingum.

Up Next
The Gators conclude their opening weekend at the Great Lakes Cross Over on Saturday (Aug. 31) against LeTourneau and Manchester.