READING, Pa. – Despite three tightly-contested sets, the Lycoming College volleyball team fell in its MAC Commonwealth opener, 3-0 (25-19, 25-23, 25-22) at Alvernia University on Wednesday night, Sept. 6, at Jack McCloskey Court.
 
Freshman Kiannah Titus (Clay, N.Y./Baldwinsville) led the Warriors with nine kills, eight digs and two blocks and sophomore Lilly Singleton (Hanover, Pa./Delone Catholic) added seven kills and two digs. Freshman Elle Jednorski (Fallston, Md./Forest Hill) finished with five kills and four blocks and senior Catherine Burger (Royersford, Pa./Spring-Ford) notched 25 assists and four kills. Both sophomore Lindsay Beck (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown Community) and junior Emily Hepner (Leesport, Pa./Schuylkill Valley) each added seven digs.
 
The Warriors (2-1 overall, 0-1 MAC Commonwealth) fell behind 15-10 in the first set before rallying with a 7-3 run to close within a point, but the Golden Wolves (3-2 overall, 1-0 MAC Commonwealth) responded with a 7-2 run to close out a 25-19 win, ending the set with an ace that clipped the net.
 
Lycoming fell behind by four points in the second set at 16-12, but responded with four straight points to tie the set and eventually took a 23-22 lead, but the Wolves scored the last three points of the set to make it 25-23.
 
The Warriors scored the first five points of the third set, but Alvernia used a 12-4 run to take a 12-9 lead. Lycoming responded with a 9-3 run to take an 18-15 lead. Alvernia rallied to tie the match at 18 and after trading sideouts to a tie at 22, the Wolves closed out the set with three straight points to earn the win.
 
The Golden Wolves hit .396 in the match, led by 18 kills and a .536 hitting percentage by Kristen Sipling. Jillian Baker posted nine kills and Emily Smith posted eight kills. Abby O'Donnell finished with 39 assists, three aces and seven digs.
 
The Warriors get back on the court on Friday, Sept. 8, when they host the first of the two-day Lycoming Invitational in Lamade Gym. The Warriors will face Hartwick at 4 p.m. and D'Youville at 8 p.m.