by Casey Burinskas

HAMBURG, N.Y. – Penn State Altoona women's volleyball went up against Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference opponent Hilbert College on Saturday afternoon, when the Lions took away a win over the Hawks in five sets at the Hafner Recreation Center.

Hilbert (17-9, 4-2 AMCC) earned a 25-21 victory in the first set, but Penn State Altoona (11-11, 3-2 AMCC) pulled into the lead with 25-19 and 26-24 wins over the next two. The Hawks knotted the match score after they took the fourth set, 25-22, but the Lions won the fifth set by an 18-16 margin to finish with a victory.

Maggie Brewer (NuMine, PA/West Shamokin) totaled 14 points for the Lions on 13 kills and a pair of block assists, while Lia Simanski (Altoona, PA/Bishop Guilfoyle) scored 13.5 points on 12 kills and three block assists. Hannah Swank (Boswell, PA/Conemaugh Township) had 13 points on 12 kills and two block assists.

Kyla Campbell (Altoona, PA/Great Commission) added 8.5 points by recording six kills, one service ace, one solo block, and one block assist, and Morgan Fussell (Blairsville, GA/Union County) notched 5.5 points on four kills and a trio of block assists. Jayden Ulmer (Williamsport, PA/Williamsport) had eight block assists to total four points.

Julia Emel (Woodward, PA/Penns Valley) tallied 25 assists, and Marlo Mellish (Kittanning, PA/Armstrong) added 15 assists.

Ella Hadley (Spring Mills, PA/Penns Valley) and Swank tied for the team lead in digs with 27 apiece, while Simanski added 21 digs and Mellish had 14 digs.

The Lions jumped out to an early 2-1 lead off an attack error from Hilbert and a kill by Brewer, assisted by Emel. The two teams traded points in the early going, with Swank and Campbell providing strong blocks at the net to keep Altoona close. Midway through the set, Hilbert used a short run to gain an 18-10 lead. However, Altoona refused to back down with Brewer rallying with multiple kills from Emel's sets, while Simanski and Swank contributed on both offense and defense to cut the Hawks' lead to 22-19. Despite the late push, Hilbert took advantage of a few attack errors from Altoona and closed out the set 25-21.

The Lions came out firing early in the second set, jumping ahead 5-2 thanks to kills from Simanski and Campbell. Hilbert clawed back into the set with a series of kills, cutting the difference to 9-7. The two sides traded momentum through the middle portion of the set, as Swank and Fussell each connected for kills to keep the Lions slightly ahead. As the set tightened, Hilbert capitalized on a few Altoona errors to close the gap, but the Lions showed strength down the stretch. Brewer delivered a late kill, and Altoona won the second set 25-19. 

The Lions came out determined early in the third set, grabbing a 5-1 lead including a Campbell ace and kills from Brewer and Simanski. Momentum briefly swung Hilbert's way when the Hawks rattled off a small run to jump into the lead, 22-17. But the Lions took advantage of several Hilbert errors to claw back and tie the score at 24-24. Another attack error by the Hawks put Altoona in front, and a Brewer kill ended the set at 26-24 with the Lions on top.

Hilbert worked its way out to an 8-3 lead to start the fourth set, but the Lions answered quickly when Mellish delivered a service ace, and Fussell placed a kill to keep Altoona within striking distance, down 9-8. The teams continued to trade points through the middle of the set, with Simanski and Brewer each finding success at the net. Ulmer and Simanski combined for a big block to cut the lead to 17-14, and Swank followed up with a pair of kills from Mellish's sets to pull the Lions to within 22-17. Despite the late surge, Hilbert managed to fend off Altoona's comeback. A kill from Campbell brought the Lions within two at 24-22, but the Hawks sealed the set on a blocking point to take the set 25-22.

The Lions started strong, trading early points with Hilbert before taking a slim 4-2 lead on back-to-back kills from Simanski. Campbell and Swank each delivered key kills off sets from Emel, keeping the Lions ahead 10-8. Hilbert responded with a small push to even the score at 10-10, but the Lions' defense held firm by solid passing from Hadley. Down the stretch, Altoona found another push when kills from Campbell and Simanski put the Lions back on top, 12-10. The back-and-forth scoring continued deep into the set, with the teams finding themselves tied at 16-16. A Hilbert service error put the Lions back into the lead, and Simanski sealed the win moments later with a decisive kill down the line, giving Altoona the 18-16 set victory and a 3-2 match win.

Next up, the Penn State Altoona women's volleyball will be on the road to battle against AMCC opponent La Roche University in Pittsburgh on Wednesday, October 29 at 7 p.m.