Bradford, PA - In a tough four set battle #5 seed La Roche fell to #4 seed Pitt-Bradford on the road in AMCC playoffs.
Set One
The first match started out quickly with the first point being scored by LRU's Bethany Nulph. From there on points were traded back and forth without either team getting a large lead.
This however was ended by Pitt-Bradford starting with a kill from Taylor King, followed quickly by a service ace from Kayla Maslowski, a kill from Kaitlyn Sexton, and finally a setting error by Krystal Anda on the Redhawks. This caused Head Coach Nicole Bajuszik to call a timeout (10-6).
The timeout turned out to be just what the Redhawks needed to side-out, a service error by Pitt-Bradford's Kayla Maslowski got the ball back on La Roche's side of the court.
Unfortunately for La Roche this didn't last long and the Panthers went on a six point run to make Bajuszik call another time out (15-7).
The Redhawks were finally able to get the ball back with a block from Bethany Nulph and Quinn Hughes. A kill from Cassidy Rossi assisted by Sydney Herzer had Pitt-Bradford calling their first timeout of the set (18-13).
Sadly, for LRU the run wasn't enough to get them to win the set. UPB had set point with an ace by Eve Brink, the final score of the set 25-15.
Set Two
The second set started out with a Pitt-Bradford eight point run, before the Redhawks called their first timeout of the set (8-0).
La Roche was finally able to side out with a kill from Quinn Hughes. This was quickly followed by two service aces from Kenzie Kerkan, making the score 15-3 in favor of UPG.
The Redhawks took a timeout shortly after a kill from Pitt-Bradford's Kaitlyn Sexton.
This timeout worked in LRU's favor as a service error from UPG allowed the ball back on their side of the net. This led to errors on both sides of the net making the score 17-6, still in favor of the Panthers.
Rory McCune for the Redhawks got on the board first with a kill, then with a service ace (20-10).
Unfortunately, McCune's run was ended by a kill from Olivia Reese. Reese then went on to go for another kill making the score 24-10.
La Roche was not so willing to give up match point, and Mackenzie Jeric went on to win a point for the Redhawks with a kill.
However, a kill from Pitt Bradford's Emma King ended the set with a final score of 25-11.
Set Three
Set three started off with a quick three points for the Panthers with two kills from Olivia Reese and another from Kaitlyn Sexton. The run ended with an attack error from UPG.
From there both teams exchange service errors bringing the score to 4-2 in favor of Pitt-Bradford.
La Roche was quick to answer with a kill from Mackenzie Jeric, who only took one play off before she came back with another kill, bringing the score to 6-5, Redhawks down by one.
Rory McCune decided she wanted to join the point scoring and got a kill of her own, tying the set 6-6. This caused Pitt-Bradford to call a timeout.
The score remained tied as both teams traded points. They tied at 6-6, 7-7, and 8-8 until a kill by Quinn Hughes ended it 9-8, in favor of LRU.
The Redhawks took the lead and ran with it for another two points, the score now 11-8.
Sadly, the Redhawks could not hang on to this lead and UPG quickly tied it up again with a block from Talia Magno and Kaitlyn Sexton, making the score 11-11.
The Panther's put an end to the tie with a kill from Magno and then went on a three point run, bringing the score to 14-11 in favor of UPG. This caused the Redhawks to call a timeout.
Directly out of the timeout Hughes had another kill, which Nulph quickly followed with a service ace, bringing the Redhawks to be down by just one point (14-13).
UPG took a two point lead (kills from Tabitha Walker and an attack error on LRU) but Mackenzie Jeric responded with an attack of her own (16-14). After this play the Redhawks seemed to find their rhythm.
Once La Roche found their bearings, they had several great plays happen; a block by Mackenzie Jeric, assisted by Rory McCune. A setting error on Pitt-Bradford, giving them a point. Finally, a service ase from Krystal Anda. This brought the score to 18-17 in favor of the Redhawks and had the Panther's calling a timeout.
Out of the timeout, LRU had a kill from McCune, but UPG quickly went on a three point run, stealing the momentum.
Thankfully, the Panther's had a service error that brought the score once again to tie (20-20), and then again at 21-21.
After a kill for UPG by Reese, La Roche took another timeout, to not let this third and what could be the final set get away from them (22-21).
The Redhawks were handed a gift after a miscommunication caused a service for Kayla Maslowski, when she served them a ball that was out, bringing the score to 23-22, La Roche down by one.
LRU tied it up again with a momentum changing block by Shelby Lion assisted by Quinn Hughes. This block team went on to do the exact same thing again in the next play and in doing so brought the score to 24-23 in favor of the Redhawks.
Quinn Hughes put an end to the set with two kills in a row, winning the set for the Redhawks 26-24, forcing a fourth set in this AMCC regular season playoff game.
Set Four
The opening point for set four was awarded to La Roche's Cassidy Rossi.
The Redhawks then went on a two point run starting with a momentous block from Bethany Nulph, assisted by Quinn Hughes (3-1, in favor of LRU).
The Panther's came back with two kills from Emily Clevland (4-4), but then Nulph, with another huge block for the Redhawks, this time assisted by McCune, brough the score back to 5-4 for LRU.
Nulph didn't stop there. She went on to win another point for La Roche with a service ace, which Jeric quickly followed with a kill, bringing the score to 9-5, still in favor of the Redhawks.
The Panthers fought back with a kill from Emma King. A setting error on LRU, also helped them out and made the score 11-10. UPG was now only down by one point.
From here both teams traded points until Pitt-Bradford tied the score at 13-13 with a service ace from Chole Bellis. They capitalized on this and Cleveland earned herself a point with a kill from the far right side forcing LRU to call a timeout (14-13).
The timeout did not have the effect that LRU would have hoped and the Panthers continued their three point run with a kill from Cleveland and Walker, a hitting error on La Roche, and a service ace from Bellis (18-13). The Redhawks called another time out after the ace.
Unfortunately for the Redhawks the timeout, again, did not have the desired effect. An attack error on the Redhawks, a kill from Cleveland, a setting error, also on LRU, a block from Tabitha Walker, assisted by Taylor King, another attack error, and two final kills (one from Walker, and the other from King), ended the set in favor of Pitt-Bradford. Final score 25-13.
Final Thoughts
Bethany Nulph led the Redhawks in kills with 8. Also at the top of the leader board are both Quinn Hughes and Mackenzie Jeric followed closely behind Nulph with six kills each. Hughes also added six block assists.
Nulph also led the team in digs with 18, Sydney Herzer had 14, and Cassidy Rossi had 11. Rossi also had 12 assists, and fellow setter, Krystal Anda had nine.
The Redhawks finish their 2021 season with a 7-16 record.
Emily Cleveland led Pitt-Bradford in kills with 15. She also had eight digs and one assist. Oliva Reese followed shortly behind with 11 kills, seven digs, and one block assist.
Kayla Maslowski led the team in digs with 22, and added two service aces. Finally, Kaitlyn Sexton and Taylor King each had three block assists.
Pitt-Bradford will move on to play #1 seed Penn State-Behrend, on Saturday, November 6, at 2PM, at Penn State Behrend.