LATROBE, Pa. (Sept. 3) - The Saint Vincent volleyball team earned a pair of 3-0 victories during the Saturday session of the annual Bearcat Challenge. Saint Vincent downed Carlow University and then topped Franciscan during the afternoon to close out a successful two-day run with a 3-1 overall record. 

In the opener, SVC took the match with set scores of 25-19, 25-23 and 25-23 over Carlow. 

Saint Vincent held a lead for the majority of the first set to take the early lead over the Celtics. The Bearcats would have to rally in the second set, facing a deficit as large as eight points at 16-8. Carlow then held a 22-16 advantage before SVC ended the set on a 9-1 run to take a 2-0 lead in the match. 

Looking for the sweep, the Bearcats raced out to a 15-2 edge in the third set. A big catalyst for the run by was junior outside hitter Olivia London, who totaled seven service aces in the set alone. Carlow chipped away at the SVC lead, working their deficit to 20-10 before rattling off 10 more unanswered points to tie the match. After the Celtics took a short-lived lead, SVC answered to claim the set and sweep the match.

Freshman hitter Sarah Wozniak tallied 10 kills, nine digs and four blocks in the win. Senior outside hitter Emily Vaughan recorded seven kills and 11 digs, while sophomore libero Sydni Massinger had a team-best 15 digs. Sophomore setter Nina Beatrice racked up 30 assists, while London had a team-high seven service aces.

Saint Vincent knocked off Franciscan in the nightcap, with set scores of 25-20, 25-23 and 25-22. 

The Bearcats and Barons played competitive back and forth contests in all three sets but SVC outlasted Franciscan each time, including scoring the final five points in the third for the sweep.

Wozniak again led the SVC attack, racking up 13 kills. Vaughan chipped in seven kills and 16 digs, while Beatrice tallied 31 assists to help the offense. 

Following the conclusion of the tournament, Wozniak was named as Saint Vincent's representative for the Bearcat Challenge All-Tournament Team, which is below.

Saint Vincent finished the weekend with a 3-1 mark to open the 2016 season. SVC will host a strong Carnegie Mellon squad on Wednesday, Sept. 7. The matchup is slated for a 7 p.m. start at the Carey Center. 


Bearcat Challenge All-Tournament Team 

Allegheny College - #14 – MH – Leah Franzluebbers
Baldwin-Wallace - #9  - UT – Ellen Hawkins
Carlow University - #17 – OH – Kristina Hudock
Franciscan University - #1 – S/OH – Callahan Hickey  
Muskingum University - #11 – MH – Katie Hunt
Pitt-Greensburg - #5 – MH – Megan Kirkpatrick
Saint Vincent College - #18 – MH – Sarah Wozniak
Westminster College - #11 – MH – Lexie Yoho
Wooster College - #7 – MH – Lydia Webster