Women’s Volleyball takes Alfred State to five sets to open AMCC action

ALFRED, N.Y. --- Carlow University women's volleyball opened Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference play with a tough 3-2 loss at Alfred State College Saturday.

The Celtics (7-9, 0-1 AMCC) dropped the first two sets, 25-20 and 25-22, but rallied to win the next two, 25-21 and 25-20 over the Pioneers (9-6, 2-0 AMCC) before falling, 15-12, in the final set.

Rebecca Hess led Carlow with a double-double 19 kills and 15 digs, followed by Alison Humberston with 17 kills. Javonna Perkins tallied 10 kills and three blocks, while Meghan Cooper and Taylor Claypoole added four blocks apiece.

Meghan Alexander had a double-double 42 assists and 12 digs, and Hess and Kelsey Sufak combined for six of Carlow's 10 service aces on the day.

Carlow jumped out to a 6-2 lead in the first set, but Alfred State strung together a few points to tie the score and gained a marginal lead over the Celtics that they would not relinquish the remainder of the set.

The Pioneers led, 5-0, to start the second set, but the Celtics battled back to tie it up, 20-20 late in the game.

Both teams tied the game twice, but a service ace and back-to-back kills by Racquel Gerstenberger gave Alfred State the win.

With Alfred State leading the match, 2-0, the Celtics rallied in the third set.

Once again, the Pioneers started off with a 5-0 advantage, but the Celtics tied the score several times throughout the set.

The Celtics went on a 6-0 run to lead, 22-17, and held on for the 25-21 win.

Both teams battled it out in the fourth set, but an attack from Hess and an ace by Sufak gave the Celtics a 23-20 lead en route to a 25-20 win to force a fifth set.

It was another back-and-forth game in the final set, but a few costly errors at the end of the game landed in favor of the Pioneers, 15-12.

Gerstenberger and Alayna Tomlinson both had 17 kills for the Pioneers, and Alfred State racked up 17 services aces throughout the match.

Carlow hosts La Roche University to continue AMCC play Oct. 11.