Volleyball takes three matches at Northwest Pennsylvania Challenge

Andrew Woodley, Sports Information Director

ERIE, Pa. (Sept. 9) – The Bethany College volleyball team claimed three out of four matches at the Northwest Pennsylvania Challange hosted by Allegheny College and Penn State-Behrend. The Bison defeated Alfred 3-0, Wooster 3-1 and Penn State-Behrend 3-0, after opening the event with a 3-0 loss at Allegheny.

THE MATCHUP

• Match 1 Final: Allegheny 3, Bethany 0 (25-14, 25-12, 25-16 | Box Score)
• Match 2 Final: Bethany 3, Alfred 2 (23-25, 22-25, 25-20, 25-21, 15-13 | Box Score)
• Match 3 Final: Bethany 3, Wooster 1 (12-25, 25-20, 25-23, 25-21 | Box Score)
• Match 4 Final: Bethany 3, Penn State-Behrend 0 (25-16, 25-19, 25-15 | Box Score)
• Record: Bethany 5-4
• Locations: Wise Center | Meadville, Pennsylvania | | Junker Center | Erie, Pennsylvania

MATCH NOTES vs. Allegheny

• The Bison were dealt a 3-0 straight set loss by host-Allegheny. In the match the Bison finished with a 0.65 hitting percentage.
• Sophomore Katie Sparks (Macedonia, Ohio/Trinity) was the top offensive threat for Bethany. She tallied eight kills in the match.
• Freshman Jenna Scott (New Castle, Ind./Liberty Christian) guided the offense with 22 assists and added seven digs.

MATCH NOTES vs. Alfred

• Bethany dropped the first two sets, before rallying back to claim a 3-2 win over Alfred on Friday night.
• Sparks and senior Sumayyah Muhammad (Warren, Ohio/Warren G. Harding) led the way with 13 kills, apiece. Muhammad added an impressive seven blocks (four solo) to her final line on the night.
• Scott was the team's primary setter and established a new season-high with 39 assists in the win.
• The defense totalled 102 digs, spearheaded by junior Reilly Parker (North Huntington, Pa./Norwin), who collected 28 to lead the team.

MATCH NOTES vs. Wooster

• Bethany dropped the opening set to Wooster, but recovered to win the next three in their victory Saturday morning.
• Sparks established a new career-high with 16 kills and added 18 digs to record a double-double in the win.
• Scott also tallied a double-double. She posted 38 assists and 18 digs in the win.
• Parker helped lead the defensive efforts for the Bison, as she collected 38 digs.

MATCH NOTES vs. Penn State-Behrend

• The Bison cruised to a 3-0 win over host-Penn State-Behrend in the final match of the weekend Saturday afternoon.
• Sparks and Muhammad each posted eight kills to lead the offense. 
• Scott tallied 29 assists to guide the offensive efforts, while Parker's 17 digs helped lead the defense.
• Bethany finished with a .419 hitting percentage in the third set of the match. 

UP NEXT

• Bethany will have the week off before heading to Greenville, Pennsylvania for a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Tri-Match at Thiel College.
• The Bison will take on Thiel at 1 p.m., before wrapping up play with Westminster at 3 p.m.