PITTSBURGH, Pa (Sept. 27)- The Saint Vincent women's volleyball team traveled to Pittsburgh to take on the Chatham Cougars. The Bearcats lost the back-and-forth match in five sets, 3-2.
 
Chatham won the first set, 25-17. SVC bounced back winning the next two sets by scores of 25-17 and 27-25, before Chatham took the final two sets, 25-23 and 15-7.
 
Kaelyn Staples led the way for the Bearcats with a team high, 13 kills, while also adding four digs, one assist, and one block. Luciana Polk added nine kills for SVC, while also picking up a game high, 27 digs, and scored two assists. Haley Stormer had eight kills, three digs, and one block for the Bearcats, and Lindsey Kocjancic scored seven kills, four digs, and two assists.
 
In the first set, Saint Vincent controlled the early portions of the set, as the Bearcats found themselves with an 11-5 lead. The momentum in the set started to transition in favor of the Cougars, as Chatham went on a 9-3 run, tying the set up at 14-14.
 
The Cougars continued on the attack, scoring six of the next eight points, taking a 20-16 lead. After a kill from Stormer, cut the Chatham lead to 20-17, the Cougars scored the next five points in the set, taking the first set, 25-17, and 1-0 lead in the match.
 
It went back and forth in the beginning of the second set, as both teams traded points and the set was tied 8-8. After a setting error by Chatham gave SVC a 9-8 lead, the Cougars went on a 6-0 run to take a 14-9 lead in the set. The Bearcats scored five of the next eight points, cutting the Cougars lead to 17-14. SVC ended the set on an 11-0 run, winning the set, 25-17, tying the match up at one all.
 
Saint Vincent continued their momentum from the second set into the third set, as the Bearcats opened up to a quick 9-4 lead in the set. Chatham responded with a quick 7-0 run, to take an 11-9 lead. The teams traded the next several points, as the Cougars remained in the lead, 17-15.
 
SVC answered with a 4-0 run of their own, regaining the lead at 19-17. Chatham wouldn't go away, as the Cougars tied the match 21-21 as the back and forth set continued. The teams continued to trade points, as the set remained tied at 24-24.
 
After a kill for the Cougars gave them a 25-24 advantage, the Bearcats scored the next three points, on a kill from Polk and two attacking errors on Chatham, giving the set to SVC (27-25) and the match shifted in favor of Saint Vincent as well, 2-1.
With the game on the on the line, Chatham answered the call. The Cougars scored the first five points of the fourth set, and seven of the first eight, as they held a 7-1 lead. Saint Vincent, looking to end the match, scored seven of the next 10 points, cutting the Chatham lead to two at 10-8.
 
The Cougars once again applied pressure, going on an 8-1 run, taking an 18-9 lead in the set. Over the next several points, SVC cut into the Chatham lead, but still found themselves trailing at 24-19. Saint Vincent destined to make a comeback to win the match, went on a 4-0 run, cutting the Chatham lead to 24-23. The Cougars didn't back down, ending the set on a kill by Amelia Bogovich, forcing the winner take all fifth set.
 
The fifth set, much like the other four sets, was back and forth early on, as Saint Vincent held a slight 5-4 lead in the set. Chatham scored four of the next points to regain the lead at 8-6. They continued with their momentum, scoring seven of the final eight points to win the match.
 
The Bearcats return to action on Thursday, September 29 when they return home to host Franciscan. The match is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. in the Robert S. Carey Center.