Box Score ALTOONA, Pa. — The Mount Aloysius College women's volleyball team saw its impressive postseason run come to an end in a hard-fought five-set battle against Penn State Altoona in the AMCC Tournament semifinals at Adler Arena.
Entering the conference tournament as the No. 4 seed, the Mounties went toe-to-toe with No. 1 seed Penn State Altoona, pushing the conference's top team to the brink before narrowly falling 3-2.
Mount Aloysius battled throughout the evening, taking a two-set-to-one advantage before Penn State Altoona rallied to claim the final two sets. The Mounties fell by scores of 15-25, 25-22, 25-22, 16-25, and 13-15, finishing their season with a 14-12 overall record.
The semifinal appearance capped off a successful 2026 campaign for Mount Aloysius, highlighted by a memorable postseason victory and a determined performance against the tournament's top seed.
The opening set saw the Mounties working to establish their offensive rhythm against a strong Penn State Altoona squad. Despite several scoring opportunities, Mount Aloysius dropped the first set 25-15.
The Mounties responded in the second set, showing the resilience that had defined their postseason run. Behind a balanced offensive attack and strong defensive effort, Mount Aloysius recorded 13 kills and secured a 25-22 victory to even the match at one set apiece.
With momentum on their side, the Mounties continued their strong play into the third set. Mount Aloysius remained composed in another competitive frame, recording 10 kills while limiting Penn State Altoona to a .047 hitting percentage. The Mounties captured the set 25-22, taking a 2-1 advantage and moving within one set of advancing to the AMCC Championship Game.
Penn State Altoona responded in the fourth set, taking a 25-16 victory to force a decisive fifth set.
With their season on the line, Mount Aloysius refused to back down.
The fifth set featured a battle between two teams determined to keep their championship hopes alive. The Mounties continued to compete against the top-seeded Lions, keeping the deciding frame close until the final points.
Despite a determined effort, Mount Aloysius came up just short, falling 15-13 in the fifth set as Penn State Altoona advanced to the conference championship.
Sarah Iman (Purgitsville, W.V., Moorefield) led the Mount Aloysius offense with a team-high 12 kills on 45 attempts. Iman also contributed six digs, finishing with 12 points in the semifinal contest.
Mackenzie Barr (Pittsburgh, Pa., Shaler) delivered another strong performance, recording 11 kills, two blocks, and a service ace. Barr finished with 13.5 points, providing an important offensive presence throughout the five-set match.
Kelsey Dye (Newport, Ohio, Frontier) added seven kills while hitting .211, along with one solo block and three block assists. Loren Stipanovich (Cresson, Pa, Penn Cambria) contributed six kills and two block assists, while Kyler Freeman (Lucinda, Pa., North Clarion) added two kills, eight digs, and two block assists.
The Mounties also received valuable contributions from their setters. Kiersten Cummings (Las Vegas, Nev, Nevada State) led the team with 16 assists while adding 15 digs and a service ace. Reghyn Wilson (Harrisburg, Pa., Bishop McDevitt) finished with 15 assists and four digs, helping distribute the offense throughout the match.
Defensively, Mount Aloysius put together an outstanding effort, finishing with 100 total digs.
Madison Barr (Pittsburgh, Pa., Shaler) anchored the defense with a team-high 27 digs, while Maya McIlwain (Rural Valley, Pa, West Shamokin) added 18. Macie Highley (Middlebourne, W.V., Tyler) contributed 14 digs and two service aces, while Cummings added 15 digs to help keep the Mounties competitive against the conference's top seed.
As a team, Mount Aloysius finished with 41 kills, 37 assists, six service aces, 100 digs, and six total blocks.
The Mounties' defensive performance and determination helped them push Penn State Altoona to five sets in one of their biggest matches of the season.
A Successful Season for the Mounties
Although the season ended just short of the AMCC Championship Game, the 2026 campaign featured plenty of accomplishments for the Mount Aloysius women's volleyball program.
The Mounties earned the No. 4 seed in the AMCC Tournament, securing a home playoff match against No. 5 seed La Roche University.
In the opening round, Mount Aloysius delivered one of its most memorable performances of the season, overcoming two match points in the fourth set before rallying to earn a thrilling five-set victory over La Roche.
That victory propelled the Mounties into the AMCC semifinals, where they challenged the conference's No. 1 seed and came within two points of forcing a different outcome in the decisive fifth set.
Throughout the season, Mount Aloysius demonstrated resilience, determination, and a willingness to compete against strong conference opponents. The team's ability to overcome adversity and perform in high-pressure situations was especially evident during its postseason run.
The Mounties also received contributions from throughout the roster, with veteran leadership and a balanced team effort helping guide the program to another conference tournament appearance.
While the final result was not what the Mounties had hoped for, their performance in the AMCC Tournament reflected the hard work and commitment they displayed throughout the year.
Mount Aloysius concludes the 2026 season with a 14-12 overall record, a fourth-place tournament seed, and an appearance in the AMCC semifinals, providing the program with plenty of positives to build upon moving forward.
