Fayette Can't Match Pioneers

September 12, 2011

UNIONTOWN, Pa. - Despite an early advantage in set one, the Penn State Fayette women's volleyball team couldn't muster many more leads, falling to NAIA member Point Park 3-0 (19-25, 18-25, 22-25) on Monday night.

Freshman Janelle Cooper (Uniontown, Pa.) led Fayette with six kills and three digs, while freshman Samantha Helmantoler (Monongahela, Pa.) and junior Leah Ambrosini (Connellsville, Pa.) each added four kills for the Roaring Lions (7-3).

The Roaring Lions hit only .026, as the Pioneers dominated the net. Senior setter Katie Sleasman (Connellsville, Pa.) and freshman Emily Konter (Brownsville, Pa.) had six and seven assists, respectively.

Set one began with a Fayette error, followed immediately by kills by Cooper and Ambrosini. Sophomore Caitlin Fidel (Perryopolis, Pa.) notched a block, one of three on the day, to give the Roaring Lions a 3-1 lead. Two Pioneer points tied the score, and a Point Park service error gave Fayette a lead once again. The Pionners rattled off three straight points for a 6-4 lead, but the Roaring Lions answered once again with kills by Cooper, Helmantoler and Ambrosini to take an 7-6 lead. Swapping points, Fayette led 8-7 before going on another mini-run, this time on two Pioneer errors and a block by sophomore Alaina Weiss (Monongahela, Pa.) to make it 11-7. Two Fayette errors were followed by a kill from Helmantoler, but the Pioneers would come back. Point Park scored the next five points to lead 14-12, before an attack error brought Fayette back within one. Another Pioneer point was followed by three Fayette points, including an ace by sophomore Marney Hillen (Connellsville, Pa.). Leading by one at 16-15, Fayette allowed another Point Park run, this time five straight points that gave the Pioneers a 20-16 advantage late in the set. The teams exchanged the next four points, and Fayette answered with an Ambrosini kill to bring them within three at 22-19, but Point Park held on, taking the final three points of the set.

Set two started much the way the first ended, with a 5-0 Point Park run. A kill by Cooper got the Roaring Lions on the board, but another two Pioneer points gave them a six-point cushion. Fayette fought back with three points, including another kill by Cooper, and then would alternate the next eight points, as Point Park held an 11-8 lead. Point Park would score seven of the next nine points, as Cooper would be the only one to notch points for the Roaring Lions, and the Pioneers enjoyed an 18-10 advantage. Two Point Park errors gave Fayette life, but the Pioneers took four of the next five points to lead 22-13. Helmantoler added a kill, but two Point Park kills gave them set point. With sophomore libero Victoria Kearns (Uniontown, Pa.) serving, the Roaring Lions took four straight points, but Point Park squashed the comeback attempt, taking set two 25-18.

Point Park jumped out to another early advantage in set three, leading 4-0 before a service error and Ambrosini kill got Fayette back in the match. However, Point Park added five of the next seven points to lead 9-4. A kill by Konter and a Pioneer attack error brough Fayette within three, but Point Park took a 3-0 run for a 12-6 advantage. After two Pioneer attack errors, a Fidel block made it 12-9, but Point Park answered with two kills. The teams would split the next four points before another 3-0 Point Park run made the score 19-11. Fayette managed four of the next five points to make it a five-point deficit, but two more Pioneer points made it 22-15. A Helmantoler kill and two setting errors on Point Park made it 22-18 before a Pioneer kill made it 23-18. Fayette made a run with a kill by freshman Emily Caldwell (Belle Vernon, Pa.), a Point Park error and Fidel's final block, before Point Park took a point for a 24-21 lead. Sleasman answered with a tip set for a point, but a Pioneer kill ended the set and match.

Fayette returns to action on Wednesday, Sept. 14 as they begin play in the Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference with a match at Penn State Greater Allegheny. First serve is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.. The Roaring Lions return home next Monday, Sept. 19 for a 7:00 p.m. serve against La Roche College.