Women’s Volleyball battles to fifth set against La Roche

PITTSBURGH --- Carlow University women's volleyball lost a 3-2 nail-biter to La Roche University in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference action Wednesday.

The Celtics (7-10, 0-2 AMCC) played a solid match with athletes diving across the gym floor and churning out long rallies, but the Red Hawks (12-6, 2-1 AMCC) came out on top.

Alison Humberston led the Celtics with 15 kills, followed by Javonna Perkins with 10.

Rebecca Hess tallied five of Carlow's 10 service aces and picked up four blocks, while four different players recorded double-digit digs in the effort.

The Celtics started off strong, hitting .448 to win the first set, 25-12.

The Red Hawks returned the favor in the second set, jumping out to a 10-6 lead en route to a 25-12 victory.

Both teams battled it out in the third set, with La Roche tying the game, 12-all, midway through.

Carlow maintained its marginal lead over the Red Hawks and took advantage of costly errors and well-placed kills to win, 25-18.

La Roche scored five unanswered points to start the fourth set, recording twice as many kills as the Celtics to win, 25-11, and force the fifth set.

Back-to-back kills from Humberston and Hess got the Celtics started, but the Red Hawks quickly gained the lead.

Trailing, 12-9, Hess won the side-out with another kill and brought Carlow to within a point after serving up an ace.

La Roche picked up two kills to lead, 14-11, but Humberston's successful attack afforded the Celtics another shot at a comeback. Unfortunately, the Red Hawks made the final kill to end the game.

La Roche's Quinn Hughes and Kalli Grine each had 15 kills, while Morgan Johnson recorded seven of the Red Hawk's 11 aces on the night. Mackenzie Kerkan tallied a game-high 26 digs.

The Celtics host Penn State Fayette tomorrow for a 7 p.m. match inside St. Joe's.