The University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg women's volleyball team battled Penn State Behrend on Wednesday evening at Chambers Hall but fell in straight sets (25-16, 25-23, 25-21) in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) action.
With the loss, the Bobcats moved to 6-12 overall and 3-4 in conference play, while the Lions improved to 15-6 overall and 6-1 in the AMCC.
Damia Sibblies led the Pitt-Greensburg offense with seven kills on 13 attempts, hitting .308 for the match. Jackie Shields followed with six kills, while Lauren Fajbik added five. Abigail Smulik directed the Bobcats' offense with 21 assists and contributed three service aces and seven digs.
After dropping the opening set 25-16, Pitt-Greensburg responded with a stronger showing in the second frame. The Bobcats recorded 10 kills and hit .200 in the set, keeping things close with the Lions. The second set featured four ties and three lead changes, but Behrend ultimately edged Greensburg 25-23 to take a two-set advantage.
The Bobcats continued to compete in the third set, staying within striking distance before the Lions secured the match with a 25-21 victory.
At the net, Paige Phillips contributed three kills, one solo block and four block assists, while Smulik added three block assists. Sibblies and Fajbik each recorded two block assists.
Defensively, Smulik paced the Bobcats with seven digs, while Ainsley Martin and Hannah Binns each added six. Emily Hernandez chipped in two service aces as Pitt-Greensburg finished with five aces as a team.
Penn State Behrend was led by Cadence Jones, who finished with a match-high 16 kills, while Olivia Swinarski added 11. The Lions hit .301 as a team compared to .046 for the Bobcats.
Despite the setback, Pitt-Greensburg will look to bounce back as the Bobcats travel to Hilbert College on Saturday, October 17, for another AMCC matchup.
