by Casey Burinskas

READING, Pa. – On Tuesday evening, the Penn State Altoona women's volleyball team was on the road against non-conference opponent Penn State Berks, and the Lions were able to pull out a three-set win at the Beaver Athletics and Wellness Center.

Penn State Altoona (7-8) got the 3-0 victory in commanding fashion, taking care of Berks (0-14) by scores of 25-10, 25-10, and 25-18.

Jenna Dunn (Clarion, PA/Clarion-Limestone) put up a match-high 7.5 points for the Lions on four kills, two service aces, one solo block, and one block assist, and Hannah Swank (Boswell, PA/Conemaugh Township) contributed seven points on six kills and an ace. Kyla Campbell (Altoona, PA/Great Commission) added in six points on three aces, two kills, and two block assists, and Lia Simanski (Altoona, PA/Bishop Guilfoyle) chipped in five points on five kills.

Julia Emel (Woodward, PA/Penns Valley) led all players on the night in assists with 15. Brooklyn Myers (Grassflat, PA/West Branch) recorded eight assists, and Marlo Mellish (Kittanning, PA/Armstrong) tallied four.

Brianna Woodring (Greencastle, PA/Greencastle-Antrim) finished with a match-best 10 digs, and Nicole Pierce (Bethel Park, PA/Bethel Park) recorded nine digs.

Penn State Altoona came out strong in the opening set against Penn State Berks, pulling away for a 25-10 win to take the early lead in the match. The Lions established control right from the start, beginning with a Berks setting error and an early kill from Simanski to grab a 2-1 lead. Maggie Brewer (NuMine, PA/West Shamokin) added a kill, and Ella Hadley (Spring Mills, PA/Penns Valley) chipped in with an early finish to help Altoona stay ahead. Momentum fully swung in Altoona's favor midway through the set, when Mellish delivered a pair of service aces and set up kills for Hadley, Johanna Heckman (Bellwood, PA/Bellwood-Antis), and Simanski, extending the Lions' lead to 10-3. From there, the attack spread across the lineup. Simanski continued to score at the net, Hadley and Brewer found kills off Emel's sets, and Makiya Mack (Philipsburg, PA/West Branch) added a kill of her own. Emel contributed with a service ace, while Hadley and Simanski combined for additional points. Brewer and Jayden Ulmer (Williamsport, PA/Williamsport) sealed the set by teaming up for a block, giving Altoona a 25-10 in the first set.

The Lions started off the second set with more strong play at the net, as Swank, Campbell, and Morgan Fussell (Blairsville, GA/Union County) each contributed early kills. Campbell and Fussell had blocks that stalled Berks' attempts to build momentum, giving Altoona a 9-3 lead. Swank, Jadeyn Price (Altoona, PA/Altoona), and Dunn tacked on kills to extend the lead to 17-6. Campbell and Dunn teamed up for a late block, and Dunn added back-to-back aces to clinch another 25-10 win.

Berks came out ready to play in the third set, taking an early 3-1 lead on a service ace, kill, and attack error. Altoona responded quickly with Campbell, who delivered three aces to help push the Lions ahead, and an Emma Ray (Ruckersville, VA/William Monroe) kill made it 7-3. Berks fought back, tying the score at 14-14 with a run of points. From there, the Lions regrouped and leaned on offensive execution, where Dunn and Campbell answered at the net, while Swank racked up multiple kills. Myers also chipped in with timely serving, including back-to-back aces that gave Altoona a lead at 21-16. With the Lions holding control, Swank finished it off with a service ace for the 25-18 Altoona victory.

Next up, the Lions will travel to Elizabethtown, Pa. for a tri-match on Saturday, October 4. Penn State Altoona will face off against Penn State Hazleton at 12 p.m., then take on Elizabethtown College later in the day at 3 p.m.