CRESSON, Pa. - The Mount Aloysius women's volleyball team continued its historic run on Saturday afternoon, outlasting Hilbert in a five-set thriller to advance to the AMCC Championship Match for the first time in program history. Behind another stellar performance from Molly Richards (Naples, Fla., Naples) and a milestone-setting afternoon from setter Reghyn Wilson (Harrisburg, Pa., Bishop McDevitt), the Mounties battled their way to a dramatic 3-2 victory (23-25, 25-14, 21-25, 25-20, 15-11) in front of a packed ACWC crowd of 330.
Richards delivered one of the greatest individual postseason efforts in Mountie history, hammering a career-high 31 kills while adding 21 digs and four blocks. The senior strengthened her case for AMCC Offensive Player of the Year, taking over the match in crunch time and fueling the Mounties through multiple momentum swings.
Wilson orchestrated the attack efficiently, finishing with a career-high 40 assists. The junior setter also achieved a major milestone, surpassing 1,000 career assists after entering the day needing just 19. Her steady play and poise were critical in the Mounties' offensive consistency, especially in the fourth and fifth sets.
The Mounties matched Hilbert's early energy but narrowly dropped the first set 25-23. The Mounties roared back with a dominant 25-14 win in the second, fueled by efficient hitting and strong serving. After Hilbert edged ahead by taking the third set, the Mounties responded once more-turning up their defense and attacking efficiency to capture the fourth 25-20 and force a decisive fifth frame.
With the season on the line, the Mounties took control early in the final set, using Richards' relentless offense and key plays from Mackenzie Barr (Pittsburgh, Pa., Shaler) (16 kills) and Poliana Lazarini (Marialva, Brazil / Garrido) (29 digs, 13 kills) to close out the match 15-11.
Defensively, Mount Aloysius shined with 97 digs, limiting Hilbert's ability to build sustained runs. Kaylee Smith (Altoona, Pa., Altoona) and Richards each tallied four blocks, Madison Barr (Pittsburgh, Pa., Shaler) added steady passing and serve-receive play.
With the win, the Mounties (20-7, 7-1 AMCC) advance to tomorrow's championship match, where they will face third-seeded Penn State Behrend in a highly anticipated rematch. The Lions defeated the Mounties 3-2 last Saturday, setting the stage for a compelling title showdown.
With Altoona eliminated earlier in the day, the conference is guaranteed to crown a new champion after the Lions held the title for the past two seasons.
The Mounties continue to build on their historic campaign, and with a championship on the line Sunday afternoon in the ACWC, they'll once again look to their energy, execution, and home-court atmosphere to push them toward the program's first AMCC title.
First serve will be at 1:00 PM.
#GoMounties
