Volleyball bounces back with 3-1 win over Penn State Scranton

HAZLETON, Pa. - Penn State Hazleton volleyball needed a bounce back win. On Tuesday night in the Dr. Thomas M. Caccese Gymnasium, they got it. The Lady Lions (4-6, 2-4 PSUAC) dispatched Penn State Scranton, 3-1 (17-25, 25-18, 25-15, 25-21), to snap a four-game slide and get back in the win column within the Penn State University Athletic Conference.

Hazleton fell behind in set one as it looked as if the offense would struggle again. But despite being down 1-0, the Lady Lions used strong defense and enough attacks to keep Scranton off balance. The combination worked as Hazleton swept the next three sets in convincing fashion to pick up the win.

The Lady Lions fell behind again early in the second set, 7-3, but rallied for seven straight points as Hailey Trasacco served six of them, including an ace. Trasacco and Nicole Barnes added kills during the run to make it 10-7 Hazleton. After a Scranton point to stop the momentum, Hazleton used a 7-2 run to grab a commanding 17-10 lead. The teams traded runs of points from there out, as Scranton grabbed three straight before Hazleton took two back. Another five in a row for Scranton made it 19-18 but two kills from Trasacco got the Lady Lions back on track as they used a 6-0 run to fend off the visitors for the set win, tying the match at 1-1.

Hazleton took control early in the third set, jumping out to an 8-3 lead. Scranton would battle back to tie it at 12-12, but two errors stopped Scranton's momentum and swung it back in Hazleton's favor. After Scranton scored two straight to tie it again at 14 apiece, the Lady Lions scored 11 of the next 12 points to run away with set three and a 2-1 match lead. During the final run Tina Beiland recorded a kill and four straight service aces as Hazleton took control.

Set four saw a similar start as the previous one, as Hazleton led 9-4 after Scranton struggled to put attacks on the ground. Hazleton would maintain at least a four-point advantage for much of the set, save for a late rally by Scranton to cut their deficit to three on two separate occasions. But Hazleton fended off the attack to secure the 25-21 set win and the match, 3-1.

Top Performers

The Lady Lions were led by the upperclass trio of seniors Miranda Dunne (Montrose, Pa.) and Tina Beiland (Philadelphia, Pa.) and sophomore Hailey Trasacco (Hamden, Ct.). Trasacco notched team-highs of five kills and 13 digs while Beiland added five assists, six service aces and nine digs. Dunne dished out a team-best seven assists and added three kills of her own.

Freshman Nicole Barnes (Susquehanna, Pa.) and freshman Shyan Cousins (Mt. Vernon, NY) each contributed double-digit digs on a strong defensive night for the Lady Lions, recording 11 and 12, respectively. Barnes also added three kills.

Scranton's Abby Bessoir had a game-high 14 assists while teammate Emily Tavaris had nine kills, 11 digs and four service aces. Rebekah Tiffany dug out 14 attacks for the Lions.

Next Up

Hazleton returns to the court on Saturday, September 24th when they travel to Penn State DuBois for a 4:00 p.m. start. Hazleton has won their last four meetings with the Lions and looks to extend the streak and get within a game of .500 on the season.