CRESSON, Pa. — The Mount Aloysius College women's volleyball team delivered a thrilling postseason performance Tuesday evening, defeating La Roche University in five sets to advance to the AMCC Tournament semifinals.
Entering the tournament as the No. 4 seed, the Mounties battled past No. 5 seed La Roche in a dramatic five-set contest at the Athletic Convocation and Wellness Center. After facing elimination twice in the fourth set, Mount Aloysius rallied to keep its championship hopes alive before dominating the decisive fifth set.
The Mounties earned the victory by scores of 25-27, 25-23, 23-25, 28-26, and 15-4, improving to 14-11 overall and securing a spot in the conference semifinals.
The opening set featured a back-and-forth battle, with both teams exchanging leads throughout. Mount Aloysius fought to establish momentum, but La Roche narrowly claimed the opening frame, 27-25.
The Mounties responded in the second set, displaying determination and composure to even the match. Behind a balanced offensive attack, Mount Aloysius secured a 25-23 victory, tying the contest at one set apiece.
The third set brought another competitive battle, featuring 10 ties and four lead changes. Despite recording 15 kills and hitting .256 during the frame, the Mounties came up just short, falling 25-23 and finding themselves trailing two sets to one.
Mounties Fight Off Two Match Points in Dramatic Fourth Set
With their postseason hopes hanging in the balance, Mount Aloysius delivered its most impressive performance of the evening in the fourth set.
The Mounties found themselves one point away from elimination on two separate occasions, but refused to let their season come to an end.
Facing match point twice, Mount Aloysius battled back to keep the contest alive, demonstrating remarkable resilience and composure under pressure.
The fourth set featured 12 ties and six lead changes, highlighting the intensity of the postseason matchup. The Mounties rose to the occasion offensively, recording 18 kills while hitting .271, their highest kill total and hitting percentage of the match in a single set.
With the season on the line, Mount Aloysius completed the comeback and captured the fourth set, 28-26, forcing a decisive fifth set.
The momentum from the dramatic fourth-set victory carried directly into the final frame.
Mount Aloysius took complete control in the fifth set, overwhelming La Roche with a dominant offensive and defensive performance. The Mounties committed zero attack errors in the deciding set, finishing with a .222 hitting percentage while limiting La Roche to a -.150 mark.
The Mounties closed out the match with a commanding 15-4 fifth-set victory, completing the comeback and punching their ticket to the AMCC semifinals.
Mackenzie Barr (Pittsburgh, Pa., Shaler) delivered an outstanding offensive performance, leading the Mounties with a match-high 20 kills on 49 attempts while posting a .327 hitting percentage. Barr also contributed six digs, one service ace, and two block assists, finishing with a team-high 22 points.
Kelsey Dye (Newport, Ohio, Frontier) provided another exceptional performance, recording 11 kills with a .360 hitting percentage. Dye was also a force at the net, finishing with three solo blocks and four block assists, totaling 16 points.
Sarah Iman (Purgitsville, W.V., Moorefield) added 11 kills, while Kyler Freeman (Lucinda, Pa., North Clarion) contributed nine kills and a .304 hitting percentage. Loren Stipanovich (Cresson, Pa, Penn Cambria) and Jada McGill (Fishertown, Pa, Chestnut Ridge) each finished with five kills, providing additional offensive production throughout the lineup.
The Mounties also received strong contributions from their setters. Reghyn Wilson (Harrisburg, Pa., Bishop McDevitt) led the team with 26 assists, while Kiersten Cummings (Las Vegas, Nev, Nevada State) added 25. Wilson also recorded three service aces and 12 digs, helping Mount Aloysius maintain its offensive rhythm.
Defensively, Madison Barr (Pittsburgh, Pa., Shaler) anchored the back row with a team-high 29 digs, while Wilson added 12 and Maya McIlwain contributed nine. Ava Patton (Bellwood, Pa, Bellwood-Antis) chipped in eight digs as the Mounties worked to keep rallies alive throughout the five-set battle.
As a team, Mount Aloysius finished with 62 kills, 57 assists, nine service aces, 85 digs, and 12 total blocks. The Mounties posted a .203 hitting percentage while holding La Roche to .108.
The victory showcased the team's ability to respond under pressure, overcome adversity, and deliver when it mattered most.
Mounties Advance to Face No. 1 Penn State Altoona
With the victory, No. 4 Mount Aloysius advances to the AMCC Tournament semifinals, where the Mounties will face No. 1 seed Penn State Altoona on Friday, November 13, at Penn State Altoona.
The matchup will provide another opportunity for Mount Aloysius to continue its postseason run against the tournament's top seed.
After surviving two match points and completing a remarkable five-set comeback, the Mounties will look to carry their momentum and determination into Friday's semifinal contest.
With a trip to the AMCC Championship Game on the line, Mount Aloysius will aim to build on Tuesday's memorable victory and take another step toward a conference title.
