Lady Lions fall to Penn State DuBois

DuBois, Pa. - It's been a tale of two courts for the Lady Lions (4-7, 2-5 PSUAC) in 2016, perfect at home while winless on the road. That trend continued on Saturday as Hazleton traveled to Penn State DuBois, looking to break the streak as they pursue their first playoff berth since the 2013 season. Hazleton fell behind 2-0 before picking up a win in set three, but failed to even the match and ultimately fell 3-1 to the home team DuBois.

Hazleton held the early lead in set one, jumping out to a 7-4 advantage to start off play but DuBois clawed back into the set. Both teams went point for point until the home squad scored on six of their final nine service attempts to sneak past the Lions by the score of 25-23. DuBois road that momentum into set two where opened up a 10-1 lead and coasted to a 25-8 win.

Facing a 2-0 deficit in the match, the Lady Lions refused to go quietly, but it took all they could muster to cut into the DuBois lead. Like in set one, points went back and forth until Hazleton earned a key sideout with the score tied at 24. Sophomore Hailey Trasacco (Hamden, Ct.), who added three kills and an ace for the Lions in the third frame, successfully served the final two points for Hazleton to edge DuBois and tighten the match at 2-1 in favor of the home squad.

Unfortunately set four would not go the Lions way as DuBois began the stanza with 10-3 advantage and then used a seven point run to balloon their lead to 20-7. Hazleton refused to quit forcing a five point run of their own but DuBois clung to their lead, scoring their final five points on sideouts to take set four and the match by the final score of 3-1.

Top Performers

Four Lady Lions supplied the offense with a team high three kills including Hailey Trasacco, senior Tina Beiland (Philadelphia, Pa.), freshman Jena Koppenhaver (Myerstown, Pa.), and freshman Rachel Wall (Norfilk, Va.). Beiland and senior Miranda Dunne (Montrose, Pa.) led the squad in passing with five assists each, while Dunne, Koppenhaver and Wall each reached double-digits in digs.

Next Up

The Lady Lions are back in action on Wednesday, September 28 when they travel to Penn State Wilkes-Barre. Hazleton won the two team's first matchup back on September 13 and will look to pick up their first road win of the season.