Hess surpasses 1,000 career kills, Celtics fall to Salem

SALEM, W. Va. --- Carlow University women's volleyball outside hitter Rebecca Hess landed her 1,000^th career kill in a 3-0 loss to Salem University on the road Tuesday.

Hess, a senior from Greensburg, Pa., scored her 1,000^th kill in the second set of the night. She led the Celtics (3-7) with a double-double 10 kills and 16 digs. Sarah Porter (Monroeville, Pa./Gateway HS) and Emily Hess (Saltsburg, Pa./River Valley HS) tallied 12 and 10 assists, respectively.

The Tigers (5-1) swept Carlow 25-16, 25-22 and 25-17.

Both teams tied the game and gained a marginal advantage to begin the first set. After tying the score 10-all, Salem outscored Carlow 5-1 to gain the lead. Although the Celtics trailed by two points several times, the Tigers closed out the set with seven unanswered points.

Salem led through most of the second set before three errors in a row tied the game at 19-all. Back-to-back kills from Valentina Poti put the Tigers ahead 21-19, and the teams traded points back and forth, with Carlow trailing 23-22. Two Celtics errors in a row handed Salem the 25-22 victory.

The Celtics jumped out to a 5-2 advantage in the third set before the Tigers regained the lead once again. Carlow tied the score several times throughout the set, but a 7-1 run ended the set and the match in favor of Salem.

Poti led the Tigers with a game-high 16 kills and added 13 digs for the double-double. Ana Julia avila vian recorded a game-high 20 digs, and McKenzie Clyncke contributed two solo blocks.

The Celtics travel to Franciscan University for a 7 p.m. match Sept. 18.