by Casey Burinskas

SALISBURY, Md. – On Friday afternoon, the Penn State Altoona women's volleyball team traveled to Salisbury University, where they fell 3-0 in their season opener during the Margie Knight Classic.

Salisbury (1-0), which was receiving votes in the AVCA's Division III national preseason poll, pulled off the sweep by defeating the Lions (0-1) by set scores of 25-11, 25-9, and 25-9.

Maggie Brewer (NuMine, PA/West Shamokin) notched four kills for Penn State Altoona, while Kyla Campell (Altoona, PA/Great Commission) and Lia Simanski (Altoona, PA/Bishop Guilfoyle) each had three kills and a block assist.

Julia Emel (Woodward, PA/Penns Valley) totaled seven assists to go along with six digs.

Brianna Woodring (Greencastle, PA/Greencastle-Antrim) recorded a team-high seven digs, and Ella Hadley (Spring Mills, PA/Penns Valley) also chipped in six digs.

In the first set, Salisbury jumped in front with a quick run, leading 6-2 after a series of kills. Altoona got on the board with early kills from Campbell and Brewer, but Salisbury's offense kept the Lions on their heels, forcing them to play catch up. The Lions found some momentum midway through with three straight points, getting a kill from Simanski and two Salisbury attack errors to pull within 17-9. Brewer added another point at the net, but Salisbury closed the door late with consistent attacking to take the first set 25-11. 

The second set began much like the first, with Salisbury building an early lead, and the Sea Gulls went up 18-4 after a pair of aces. Hadley's defensive effort kept the points alive long enough for Campbell to notch another kill that made it 19-6. But even with the Lions' best efforts, Salisbury thrived on Altoona's mistakes, including several attack errors, and used their strong offense to keep their lead. Despite the Lions' late push, the Sea Gulls closed out the second set 25-9.

In the third and final set, the Lions came out determined to extend the match. Two Salisbury attack errors gave Altoona the first lead of the set, but the Sea Gulls responded by scoring the next 11 points to surge ahead. Campbell's kill ended the run, but Salisbury regained momentum, putting several kills together to extend the Sea Gulls' lead. Salisbury's attack remained consistent, and it closed out the set 25-9 to end with the 3-0 sweep.

The women's volleyball team will have to regroup quickly, as they face off against the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh at 12 p.m. and Thiel College at 2 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday, August 30, day two of the Margie Knight Classic.