MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson women's volleyball team split in their opening matches of the Allegheny College Tournament.
 
W&J 3, Fredonia 0 (25-16, 25-13, 25-18)
 
The Presidents utilized a few key point bursts in the first set against Fredonia and maintain ahead for the remainder of the set. Kills by Faith Fetsko (Venetia, Pa./South Park), Rian Benz (Strongsville, Ohio/Holy Name), Jaden Blough (Meyersdale, Pa./Meyersdale) and Adrianna Sacramento (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) helped W&J to open the set with 5 straight points to start ahead.
 
The Blue Devils eventually made a comeback attempt closing the gap to just one point, down by a score of 11-10. The rally was to no avail as the Presidents ignited a four-point stint to widen the gap back to 15-10. The Presidents would tally another two four-point streaks to cap the first set with a score of 25-16.
 
Fredonia would start out on top in the second set with a four to two lead. Two kills by Sophomore Sophie Little (Marysville, Ohio/Fairbanks), a kill by Fetsko and a service ace from Piper McFarland (West Mifflin, Pa./Cornerstone Preparatory Academy) propelled the Presidents in a six-point rally to put W&J ahead 8-4.
 
The Blue Devils then answered with four straight points to tie things up at 8-8. Determined W&J would have none of it, sending back another six consecutive points at Fredonia to claim a 14-8 lead. Unable to regain momentum, Fredonia would only tally five more points in the set as the Red & Black Brigade cruised to a 25-13 victory in set two.
 
Set three was a slow burn to start until the Presidents were able to break away with a brief three-point run fueled by two more service aces from McFarland to put the Presidents ahead 14-10. Following a point from Fredonia the Red & Black would tack on another three points on a kill form both Blough and Benz. One more five-point streak allowed the Presidents to put away the set with ease at a score of 25-18, effectively ending match one in a sweep of Fredonia.

McFarland led the team with three service aces followed closely by Fetsko and Benz who each tallied two. Fetsko and Benz tied with a team and match high nine kills in the set. Brielle Moorhouse (East Liberty, Ohio/Benjamin Logan) had the match high 14 assists and Adrianna Sacramento (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) also reached double digits in assists with 13. Fetsko had the team high with 8 digs. Abby Oldham (Aliquippa, Pa./Hopewell) and Benz finished with the team and match high four blocks apiece.
 
Allegheny 3, W&J 1 (25-20, 17-25, 25-21, 25-23)
 
In set one, W&J started in a tough place. Allegheny took a four-point lead early on, but Little was able to secure the kill to put favors back into the hands of W&J. W&J continued to hold Allegheny in a split point back and forth until Allegheny went on a three-point run putting the score at 15-20. W&J was able to recover a few points bringing the score to 17-20 but that wasn't quite enough for the Presidents, and Allegheny then took the first set 25-20.
 
In set two, Allegheny started strong with taking a four-point lead over the Presidents. However, the Presidents came back with two back to back kills from Benz followed by junior Beyonce Pierce (Parkersburg,W.Va/Parkersburg). Keeping that momentum, the Presidents brought it back with a four-point streak putting the score at 7-5 W&J. Allegheny attempted to make a comeback until an attack by Oldham followed with another kill by Blough cut it short. Going neck and neck for a few points, W&J then went on a hot streak led by a kill from Benz, followed by a service ace from Sacramento and a kill recorded by Fetsko. Allegheny tacked back on two points until Fetsko received yet another kill, leading McFarland to record a service ace. A kill on the next point from Blough would advance W&J to secure the set 25-17.
 
The third set started as a back and forth game until Allegheny tagged on four errors allowing the Presidents to tally on six consecutive points. The Gators added to their points putting them up 19-18 over W&J, ultimately allowing them to gain momentum and take the set 25-21.
 
The Presidents started strong in the fourth set with a five-point lead. W&J carried that momentum throughout, letting both middles, Oldham and Little record a few points. Allegheny tightens the gap at 12-12, but that didn't slow the Presidents down any. W&J continued to rally against the Gators, but ultimately allowed Allegheny to gain the lead.
 
Sophomore Middle Blockers Oldham and Little were a crucial part of this set, collectively recording three solo blocks, six assisted blocks and 16 kills for the Presidents. Ultimately Allegheny took the set on an outside kill shot down the middle, 25-23 advancing them to win the game 3-1.
 
Rian Benz led the team in kills with 14, followed by Faith Fetsko with 10, and Sophie Little with nine. Blocks were led by Abby Oldham tallying up six, and Beyonce Pierce and Sophie Little both collecting three. Piper McFarland led the team in digs recording 30 followed by Faith Fetsko with 16 and Adrianna Sacramento with 13. Adrianna Sacramento led the team in assists collecting 22, followed by Brielle Moorhouse with 17. Adrianna Sacramento and Piper McFarland both recorded an ace each.
 
W&J will return to action tomorrow at the Allegheny College Tournament to face two more opponents including Rochester Institute of Technology and Westminster College with game times starting at 11:00 a.m.