Volleyball Lady ‘Cats fall twice in MEC/PSAC Crossover

ERIE, Pa. — The West Virginia Wesleyan (0-8) volleyball team fell in matches against Shepherd (8-1) and Edinboro (6-1) on Saturday (Sept. 18) at Mercyhurst Athletic Center in Erie, Pa., and McComb Fieldhouse in Edinboro, Pa.
 
WVWC Day Two Leaders
Michela Ayers finished her solid weekend performance with 12 kills in the final two matches. Makenzie Yates tallied six kills in the first match of the day versus Shepherd, while Jenny Lundy smashed six kills in the second match of the day versus Edinboro. Payton Hefner (26) and Maddi Carpenter (15) were the only two Bobcats to total more than 10 assists on the day. Carpenter slammed four service aces in the match versus Edinboro. 
 
On defense, Autumn Molenhouse and Abigail Anderson each recorded ten digs between the two matches. Anderson added a service ace in each match. At the net, Hope Arce-Reed had one block solo and two block assists.
 
Shepherd 3, WVWC 0
The Rams opened up the first set with a 3-0 lead. A kill from Anaya Hyman cut Shepherd’s lead to one with the score 6-5 Rams. Shepherd won the next four points to put the score at 10-5. The Rams went on another 4-0 run later in the set to increase their lead 20-11. Shepherd closed out set one by winning the final three points and was victorious 25-15.
 
Wesleyan started strong early in the second set and held a 5-1 lead. A kill from Yates put Wesleyan up 9-5. The Bobcats grew their lead to six points after a service ace from Anderson. Shepherd responded with a 4-0 run to make the score 13-11 in favor of the Bobcats. A kill from Ayers stopped the run and gave Wesleyan a three-point lead. Shepherd tied the set at 15 after a kill from Elyssia Smith. Yates fired another kill to help the Bobcats regain the lead. The two teams traded the next two points, and then Shepherd took a one-point lead 18-17. Carpenter dropped a kill to tie the second set at 18 all. But the Rams finished the set on a 7-1 run to win set two by a score of 25-19.
 
In the third set, Shepherd jumped out to a 17-5 lead. Wesleyan responded with a 5-0 run to make the score 17-10 Shepherd. But the Rams won eight of the last nine points to win the final set 25-11. Hefner tallied a kill and a service ace in the third set.
 
Edinboro 3, WVWC 0
With the Fighting Scots leading set one 11-8, the Bobcats scored three points in a row to tie the set at 11. Edinboro won the next three points, but a kill from Hefner and a Fighting Scots attack error made the score 14-13 Edinboro. With Bella Burrelli serving, the Fighting Scots won the next six decisions to give Edinboro a seven-point lead late in the first set. Carpenter swung three consecutive service aces to cut into the Edinboro lead, 21-18. The Bobcats cut the Edinboro lead to two points two times late in the first set, the second coming from a kill by Lundy at 23-21. Edinboro escaped with a 25-21 set one victory.
 
Wesleyan won four points in a row to tie the score at nine, capped off by a kill from Ayers. Two kills from Tatum tied set two at 14-14 and 15-15. Edinboro won the next three points after Tatum’s second kill and led 18-15. Another kill from Tatum made the score 19-17 in favor of the Fighting Scots. Edinboro won six out of the last seven points to take set two, 25-18.
 
Yates tied the third set at five after her seventh kill of the day. Carpenter’s fourth service ace of the match gave the Bobcats a 6-5 lead early in set three. The Fighting Scots regained the lead at 7-6, but the ‘Cats tied the set after a service error from Edinboro. The Fighting Scots won the next four points and held an 11-7 lead. Edinboro ignited a 6-0 run to increase their lead 17-8. The Fighting Scots went on to win the final set 25-17.
 
Up Next
 
Wesleyan will begin Mountain East Conference competition on Sept. 28 in a road match versus Charleston at 7 p.m.