WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College women's volleyball team (3-10, 0-1) was downed in a 3-0 (19-25, 16-25, 22-25) loss to open Presidents' Athletic Conference play against the Franciscan Barons (7-5, 1-0).
Rian Benz (Strongsville, Ohio/Holy Name) and
Lola Jacobs (Bridgeville, Pa./South Fayette) each led the team in kills with seven through three sets. Jacobs also led the team in blocks with two block assists on the night.
Isabella Bottiglieri (Mohnton, Pa./Governor Mifflin) led the team in assists with 16 followed by nine from
Brielle Moorhouse (East Liberty, Ohio/Benjamin Logan) with nine.
Sydney Allen (Washington, Pa./Trinity) and
Bella Anzevino (Brunswick, Ohio/Buckeye) led the team in digs with 15 and 10 digs, respectively.
Both units traded leads and ties through the opening 11 points before the Barons pulled away in the opening set. Franciscan pulled away with a four-point lead prior to elevating their advantage to 22-15. Kills by Benz and
Abby Oldham (Aliquippa, Pa./Hopewell) kept the Presidents on the attack in the set before ultimately falling, 25-19.
After going down 8-5 to open the second set, a service ace by
Cali Dagen (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) and two Baron errors helped the Presidents knot the set at eight. The Barons ballooned their lead to 22-13 following a 9-2 point run. Dagen and
Eva McKnight (East Liverpool, Ohio/Beaver Local) each had kills to break up the offensive swing in favor of Franciscan. Oldham had two kills down the stretch before the opposition took the set, 25-16.
W&J opened the third set with an early lead off kills from Jacobs and
Kenna Adams (Finleyville, Pa./Ringgold), 4-3. A kill from the Presidents' libero, Allen, pushed the lead to 7-6. Both sides traded runs and knotted the set score at 15. Kills from Benz and Adams pushed the lead back in favor of the Red & Black with a 21-18 edge. The Barons scored seven of the final eight points to obtain the sweep over the Presidents, 25-22.
The Presidents will return to action on Saturday (Sept. 26) for a 1:00 p.m. conference match with the Westminster Titans in the Salvitti Family Gymnasium.
