Women’s Volleyball ends 2025 season with five set battle against Hilbert

PITTSBURGH --- After a long week of matches, Carlow University women's volleyball ended the 2025 season with a hard-fought 3-2 Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference loss to Hilbert College at home Saturday afternoon.

The Celtics (8-19, 2-6 AMCC) – riding the momentum of a third place finish in the USCAA Championship the day prior – gave the Hawks (19-10, 5-3 AMCC) a run for their money.

Hilbert won the first set by a narrow 25-23 margin before Carlow took the next two sets, 25-17 and 25-21. The Hawks won the fourth set, 25-12, to force a fifth, and secured the win with a 15-8 victory.

Rebecca Hess (New Alexandria, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) led Carlow with a double-double 24 digs and 14 kills. Kelsey Sufak (Allison Park, Pa./Deer Lakes HS) tallied 19 digs, while Sarah Porter (Monroeville, Pa./Gateway HS) and Emily Hess (Saltsburg, Pa./River Valley HS) each recorded double-doubles with digs and assists. Carrah Scardina (Natrona Heights, Pa./Highlands HS) added 10 digs in the effort.

Hilbert scored five unanswered points to start the match, but Carlow slowly chipped away at the Hawks' lead, going on a 6-0 run to lead, 18-16. Both teams tied the game twice, with Hilbert holding a 23-21 advantage before a service ace from Sufak saw the Celtics trailing by one. Each team committed an error, but Hilbert landed the final kill for the 25-23 win.

Carlow jumped out to an early lead and maintained its lead throughout the second set with a 6-0 run midway through to win, 25-17.

The third set played out in similar fashion, with Carlow starting off with a 7-2 advantage and leading the entire set. Ahead 23-21, a Hilbert service error and a service ace from Porter ended the third set, 25-21, in favor of the Celtics.

The Hawks went ahead 13-4 in the fourth set and outscored Carlow 7-2 to end the set, 25-12, to force a fifth set.

Carlow ran out of steam in the final set. Trailing 10-5, a Hilbert service error and a big block from Suzy Walker (Boswell, Pa./North Star HS) and Paige Keller (Liberty Borough, Pa./South Allegheny HS) saw the Celtics down three; however, the Hawks outscored Carlow 5-1 to win the final set, 15-8.

Molly McKinnon led Hilbert with a game-high 21 kills and secured a double-double with 23 digs. Jade Schiller tallied a game-high 30 digs, while Jordan Austin and Lindsay Madigan added double-doubles with kills and digs.