NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College volleyball team dropped a midweek Presidents' Athletic Conference match against the Westminster Titans in a 3-2 nail-biter.
 
The loss shifts the Presidents to 11-12 overall and 2-4 in conference play.
 
W&J got out to a quick 5-0 lead in the first set with the help from four-straight errors from Westminster and a service ace from Faith Fetsko (Venetia, Pa./South Park). The W&J lead remained in tact for the remainder of the bout as the Presidents' offense was clicking early on for the 25-17 first-set win.
 
The Titans quickly responded with a mirrored outcome in the second set of play in favor of Westminster, 25-17. Building off their momentum, the Titans also managed to take the third set of the night with a score of 25-20. The Presidents were held to a negative hitting percentage in the third, limiting their offensive opportunities. Late kills by freshman Emma Padovano (Richwood, Ohio/North Union) and Brielle Moorhouse (East Liberty, Ohio/Benjamin Logan) attempted to spark the W&J offense, but to no avail.
 
In an attempt to push the bout to five sets, the Presidents managed to push past the Titans in a closely contested fourth set. With the score knotted at 22, consecutive kills by Padovano, Rian Benz (Strongsville, Ohio/Holy Name) and Jaden Blough (Meyersdale, Pa./Meyersdale) closed out the fourth set victory for W&J, 25-22.
 
The fifth set commenced with a quick 3-0 lead by the Titans, which was quickly silenced by the Presidents due to errors made by the Titan front row. Westminster grew a 13-10 lead late in the set that was again matched by W&J courtesy of kills from Abby Oldham (Aliquippa, Pa./Hopewell), Padovano and Fetsko to tie the score at 13. The Titans managed to pull through in the final two points to win the fifth-set thriller, 15-13.
 
Fetsko led the W&J offense with 13 kills accompanied by Blough with nine and Padovano with eight. Moorhouse led the setting room with 17 assists followed by Adrianna Sacramento (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) with 11. Mia Matchett (Lancaster, Ohio/Bloom-Carroll) logged nine assists in the match in her second appearance as a President.
 
Defensively, Piper McFarland (West Mifflin, Pa./Cornerstone Preparatory Academy) led the Presidents' efforts with 28 digs followed by Fetsko with 13, to add another double-double to her 2024 season. Alexandra Ash (Richmond, Ohio/Edison), Oldham and Padovano all finished with two total blocks.
 
W&J returns to their home court this Saturday (Oct. 26) for their senior recognition game against the Grove City Wolverines. Opening serve is set for 11:30 a.m.