ALTOONA, Pa. (Sept. 25) – The Saint Vincent women's volleyball team fell in five sets in a back-and-forth battle at Penn State-Altoona.
 
After Saint Vincent took a tight first set, 25-23, Penn State-Altoona battled back to take a 2-1 lead in the match with wins of 25-17 and 25-21 in the second and third sets, respectively. The Bearcats stormed back to tie the match with a 25-20 win in the fourth set, but were unable to complete the comeback, with the host Lions closing out the match by taking the fifth set, 15-12.
 
Senior Kaelyn Staples-Klasnic paced the Saint Vincent offense with 14 kills, while also adding 20 digs, for her fourth double-double of the season. Freshman Dakota Hershberger was a second Bearcat to reach double-figures in kills, putting away 10, while leading her team with three service aces and adding a pair of blocks.
 
Freshman Meegan Williams added nine kills and led the Bearcats with 23 digs, while junior Lauren Fox tallied eight kills against just one attack error, while posting a team-best five blocks.
 
Senior Vivian Poach dished out a career-high 40 assists and picked up 11 digs for her fourth double-double of the season.
 
Senior Stacie Ramos and junior Emma Harclerode shared libero duties, with Ramos tallying 13 digs and Harclerode a career-high 11.
 
As befitting the tight result, the teams' statistical lines were quite similar. Offensively, the Bearcats put down 49 kills on an .078 hitting percentage and the Lions 53 kills with an .074 hitting percentage. Penn State-Altoona served seven aces to SVC's six, while the Bearcats picked up 99 digs to the Lions' 95. 
 
The Bearcats will now have a quick turnaround before returning to non-conference action on Friday, Sept. 27, when they travel to Pittsburgh to take on Carlow University beginning at 7 p.m.