Women’s Volleyball goes 0-2 at Houghton tri-match

HOUGHTON, N.Y. --- Carlow University women's volleyball went 0-2 at a weekend tri-match hosted by Houghton University Saturday.

The Celtics (5-10) fell to host Houghton, 3-0 (25-22, 25-22, 25-20), and Fredonia defeated Carlow 3-0 (25-23, 25-17, 25-21). Final stats for the Fredonia match are not available at this time.

Against Houghton, Suzy Walker (Boswell, Pa./North Star HS) and Emily Talarico (Leechburg, Pa./Leechburg Area HS) led the Celtics with six kills apiece. Sarah Porter (Monroeville, Pa./Gateway HS) tallied three of Carlow's eight service aces and added 15 assists, and Rebecca Hess (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) contributed 17 digs in the effort.

The Highlanders went ahead 8-4 to start the first set before a kill from Talarico set off a 6-1 run to give Carlow a 10-9 advantage.

Both teams tied the game and traded leads throughout the set, but the Highlanders ended the game with four unanswered points for the 25-22 victory.

The Celtics took a 6-1 lead in the second set and maintained that lead through the game. Two kills and an error allowed Houghton to tie the set at 17-all, prompting a Carlow time out. Following the time out, another Celtics error gave Houghton its first lead of the game.

Two kills and an error put the Celtics back in the lead, but the Highlanders strung together a 6-2 run to win the second set, 25-22.

Carlow led early in the third set, but Houghton quickly countered. The teams once again tied the score and traded marginal leads. Trailing 20-15, the Celtics battled back to a two-point deficit, but the Highlanders ended the third set and won the match, 25-20.

Emma Cole led the Highlanders with a game-high 16 kills and Alexa Belanger added 15 digs.

The Celtics travel to Pitt Greensburg for a 7 p.m. conference match Oct. 7.