WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Freshman #Shelby Gear# (Rochester, N.Y./Gates-Chili) led the Lycoming College volleyball team in its season-opening tri-match on Sept. 1, as she posted 25 kills in the two matches, posting 10 in a 3-2 (25-22, 11-25, 8-25, 26-24, 15-10) win over Penn State Altoona and adding a match-high 15 in a heartbreaking 3-2 (25-21, 12-25, 18-25, 25-16, 10-15) loss to Baptist Bible in the nightcap at Lamade Gymnasium.

In the first match, the Warriors (1-1) recovered from a rocky start to defeat Penn State Altoona (1-1) in five games.

Gear led the Warriors with ten kills and six digs in the match and junior libero #Emily Abel# (Spring Grove, Pa./Spring Grove) started her junior  season with 29 digs to lead the way.

A young Warrior team rebounded in after dropping the second and third sets by taking the fourth, 26-24. Freshman setter #Katelyn McKillop# (Mount Pocono, Pa./Pocono Mountain West) started her career by posting a double-double with 23 assists and 10 digs and freshman Kassidy Sedore (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Spackenkill) added 11 digs and a kill. Freshman #Tanya DeWalt# (Mainesburg, Pa./Mansfield) also added a solid debut by posting four kills and four blocks. Senior Kelly Rose (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./Bishop Hoban) added seven kills and a block, but left the match with an injury.

Gear once again led the Warriors in the second match against Baptist Bible, but a run of five straight points by the Defenders late in the fourth set was too much for the Warriors to overcome. Gear hit a sterling .609 while blasting 15 kills, adding six service aces and two digs in the match.

Abel also played well, adding 18 digs and McKillop notched four kills, 25 assists and eight digs while DeWalt came through with 11 digs and two blocks. Senior Megan Schulze (Reedsville, Pa./Indian Valley) added four blocks and three kills.

The Defenders were led by 15 kills from Marlie Kneifel and Emily Gordon added 13 kills. Setter Katelin Broughton added 36 assists and six digs and Laura Hodupp added 10 digs.

The Warriors came out strong, winning the first set 25-21 after taking a 10-2 lead early in the set. However, the Defenders fought back by taking the next two sets before the Warriors gained momentum back by opening up a 12-4 lead en route to a 25-16 win in the fourth set. The Warriors took a 5-4 lead in the fifth set after a kill by Gear, but the Defenders scored the next five points and never let the Warriors tie the match again, closing it out with three straight points.

The Warriors are back in action on Tuesday, Sept. 7 when Penn College comes across town to the Lamade Gym for a 7 p.m. clash.