Women’s Volleyball defeats La Roche in nonconference matchup

PITTSBURGH --- Carlow University women's volleyball snapped a four-game losing streak with a 3-1 win over La Roche University Saturday.

The Celtics (4-8) picked up a thrilling reverse sweep over the 3-6 RedHawks, 23-25, 25-17, 25-23 and 26-24.

Rebecca Hess (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) led the Celtics with a game-high 17 kills, tallying 22 digs and two of Carlow's three service aces on the day. Jorja Sedlar (Brentwood, Pa./PA Leadership Charter School) added a career-high 12 kills, and three other Celtics recorded double-figure digs.

Carlow trailed 13-11 in the first set before a kill from Paige Keller (Liberty Borough, Pa./South Allegheny HS) set off an 8-2 run that handed the Celtics a 19-15 lead. Four points in a row from the RedHawks tied the game at 20-all, and the teams traded points back and forth. A kill from Sedlar saw the Celtics up 23-22, but La Roche capitalized on two Carlow errors and a kill to win the game, 25-23.

Although the RedHawks tied the score three times throughout the second set, the Celtics strung together a 7-1 run late in the game to lead, 21-15, and eventually won the set, 25-17.

A 10-1 run put Carlow ahead 14-7 in the third set, but the RedHawks assembled a 10-2 run to regain a 20-18 advantage later in the game. Carlow tied the game at 20-20 and 21-21. The Celtics trailed 23-21 but ended the third set with the help of three La Roche errors and a kill from Hess.

Both teams continued to battle, taking the fourth set to a win-by-two situation. Carlow went ahead 15-9 before the RedHawks scored seven unanswered points to take a 16-15 lead. Trailing 23-20 once again, kills from Hess and Suzy Walker (Boswell, Pa./North Star HS) paired with two La Roche errors put the Celtics in the lead, 24-23.

The RedHawks tied the score with a kill of their own, but Sedlar and Hess landed back-to-back kills to end the set 26-24 and the match in favor of the Celtics.

Kalli Grine led La Roche with a double-double 12 kills and 11 digs, while Kaci DePalma recorded a game-high 24 digs and three service aces in the effort.

The Celtics host Penn State Shenango for a 7:30 p.m. game Monday.