MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Allegheny volleyball team hosted Saint Vincent for their 2025 Senior Day Saturday (Oct. 25), falling to the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) foe in three sets.
 
The Bearcats won the sets 30-28, 25-21, 25-23. 
 
Before the match, the Gators celebrated their seven senior members: Jacy Diaz (Barranquitas, Puerto Rico/Gallatin (Tenn.)), Chloe Diekman (Nesquehoning, Pa./Panther Valley),  Alejandra Fernandez (Caguas, Puerto Rico/Commonwealth-Parkville), Izzy Gray (Erie, Pa./Harbor Creek), Sydney Kirk (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seton LaSalle Catholic), Maddie Menke (Manhasset, N.Y./Manhasset) and Jayne Seth (Erie, Pa./Mercyhurst Prep).
 
The Gators got an early lead in the opening set, but a 7-0 Bearcat run put them in front, 11-7. After a timeout, the Gators battled back to tie the set at 15. A block by Skyler Fatola (Queen Creek, Ariz./Eastmark) and Reilly Mendez (Los Gatos, Calif./Los Gatos) gave the Gators the lead back. The Bearcats answered with a run to take a 21-17 lead. Following their second timeout, the Gators rattled off a 4-0 run to tie the set late. After exchanging points, the Bearcats earned a set point at 24-22. An attack error followed by a block by Kirk and Amaya Brooks (North Olmsted, Ohio/Lutheran West) staved off two set points, tying it at 24. Allegheny stopped another three set points before the Bearcats eventually won the marathon set 30-28.
 
After trading points to start the second set, the Gators scored three straight to take a 7-4 lead. Their advantage grew to 12-7 before Saint Vincent called a timeout. Joanna Miller (Pittsburgh, Pa./Gateway) had three straight aces as the lead reached 16-7. The Bearcats fought back, answering with a big run to tie the set at 16 before taking a two point lead.  The Gators tied the set back up at 18 as the teams went back-and-forth. However, the Bearcats closed the set on a 3-0 run, taking it 25-21 to move ahead by two sets.
 
The Gators bounced back early in the third set, jumping out to a 9-2 lead. Once again, the Bearcats answered with their own run, taking a 10-9 lead. The teams then went back-and-forth for a while before Saint Vincent started to pull ahead late. The Gators tied it at 21 apiece following a timeout, but the Bearcats ultimately captured the set 25-23 to take the match. 
 
Inside the Box

• Pepperman led the Gators with 11 kills while also contributing 13 digs.
• Brooks had eight kills and four digs.
• Mendez finished with seven kills and four blocks while Kirk had six kills and four blocks.
• Fatola added five kills.
• Miller had 15 assists, seven digs and five aces.
• Gray tallied 15 assists and five digs.
• Diaz led the backline with 14 digs while Duru Akbas (Ankara, Turkey/Layton Christian Academy (Utah)) had 13.
• Seth had six digs and an ace. 

News and Notes

• Allegheny is now 8-8 all-time against Saint Vincent.

Up Next
The Gators are back in action Wednesday (Oct. 29) for their regular season home finale against Thiel.