WASHINGTON, Pa. -- The Washington & Jefferson volleyball team dropped a 3-1 decision to visiting Allegheny College in a Presidents' Athletic Conference match Wednesday evening at Salvitti Family Gymnasium.

The Gators (12-8, 2-0 PAC) took advantage of a slow start by the Presidents to claim a 25-10 victory in hte opening set. The second set was back and forth early on before Allegheny built a 14-7 lead with six straight points. The Gators maintained a lead of at least seven points for the remainder of the second set. 

After struggling offensively in the opening two sets, W&J woke up in the third set. The Presidents posted 17 kills as they registered a 25-20 set three victory. W&J trailed by a 16-13 margin before rallying late. Consecutive kills by Jaden Blough (Meyersdale, Pa./Meyersdale) and Faith Fetsko (South Park, Pa./South Park) preceded an ace by Sophia Sacriponte (Butler, Pa./Butler) that tied the match. The Presidents pulled in front by a 20-19 score when Lizzie Carmichael (Wyoming, Ohio/Wyoming) recorded another kill. After an Allegheny block evened the score, W&J ripped off the final five points to take the set. Carmichael had the hot hand with three kills during the set-deciding run. The third set featured 13 ties and four lead changes. 

W&J used a pair of kills by Claire Sauerland (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Hollidaysburg) to push out to a 7-3 lead in the fourth set. The Presidents extended their lead to 10-5 on a ball handling error by Allegheny, which was hotly contested by the Gators coaching staff before a yellow card was assessed. Allegheny responded with seven of the next eight points to forge a 13-11 advantage. W&J answered with four of the next five points, which included three consecutive kills, the last of which by Sauerland gave the Red and Black a 15-14 lead. Allegheny scored five of the next six points but W&J eventually evened the score at 20-20 on a block by Abby Tester (Munhall, Pa./Steel Valley) and Adrianna Sacramento (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills). Allegheny closed out the set and match with five of the final six points, three of which were accounted for by Emma Chambers. 

Carmichael finished with a match-high 14 kills while Blough tallied 13 kills. Sacramento amassed 41 assists. Defensively, W&J was paced by 32 digs by Piper McFarland (West Mifflin, Pa./Cornerstone Preparatory Academy). Fetsko finished with 20 digs while Bertling added 19 digs. Bridgett Everett (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Hollidaysburg) tallied a pair of service aces in the setback. 

The Presidents (8-6, 0-2 PAC) host Franciscan University of Steubenville on Saturday at Salvitti Gym. First serve is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.