PITTSBURGH -- The Mount Aloysius Women's Volleyball team opened up conference play, on Tuesday, when they traveled to Pittsburgh to take on La Roche. Despite falling behind two sets to one, the Mounties found their footing and dominated the Redhawks over the final two sets to earn the crucial victory and start 1-0 in AMCC play.

To open the contest, the two teams split the first 22 points of the first set, tied at 11. From there, the Mounties scored seven of the next eight points, including two aces by Reghyn Wilson (Harrisburg, Pa. / Bishop McDevitt), to grab a six-point advantage, 18-12. La Roche would get no closer than three points, with the Mounties earning a 25-20 first set victory.

After opening the game with a 1-0 lead, the Mounties success hit a snag. In the second set, they would lead just once by two points, 15-13, before falling 25-18. Then, in the third set they had a 1-0 lead and saw it quickly turn into a 10-2 Redhawk advantage. The Mounties would cut it to two points, but that was as close as they got, falling behind in the match, two sets to one.

With their backs against the wall, the Mounties responded. The fourth set saw the Mounties dismantle the Redhawks, 25-15. Mount Aloysius scored on their serves at least once, on all but two occasions in the set, which included seven total aces.

In the fifth set, it was all Mount Aloysius. La Roche scored the first point but saw their opponents outscore them 15-3 and run away with the deciding set. Molly Richards (Naples, Fla. / Naples) caught fire for the Mounties, tallying eight of her game-high, 23 kills, in the fifth set. Richards also did not have an error in the set.

Mount Aloysius was extremely efficient in the final two sets, tallying 21 kills and just three errors, in addition to nine service aces.

Richards led the Mounties in both kills and digs, with 25 digs to go with her 23 kills. Mackenzie Barr (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Shaler) was the other Mountie to reach double figures in kills, while also adding five blocks and four aces. Her sister, Madison Barr (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Shaler), had 24 digs. Wilson had a team-high, 20 assists, while also adding a career-high, 12 digs.

The Mounties will head back on the road, Saturday, when they travel to Erie to face Penn State Behrend. The Lions are coming off of a three-set victory against Pitt-Bradford, Tuesday night. They are currently 6-14 on the season. Mount Aloysius is still looking for their first-ever win against Penn State Behrend.