HAZLETON, PA (SEPTEMBER 7, 2023) -- It was a tough game for the King's College women's volleyball team as they took on the Nittany Lions of Penn State- Hazleton on Thursday night. The Monarchs (1-1) fell to the Nittany Lions (2-2) 3-1 in Dr. Thomas M. Caccese Gymnasium.  

 
It was a battle to start the opening set as both teams continued to answer every point. It wasn't until the score was 8-9, when King's had a three kill spurt from Bella Salvia (So.), Emily Scott (Sr.), and Madisyn Heiser-Elsea (Fy.), making it 11-9. Penn State- Hazleton continued to pester the Monarchs until the final kill by Heiser-Elsea. King's took the first set 25-23. 
 
In the second set, the Nittany Lions came back with vengeance and made a 9-3 burst right out of the gate. After a timeout the Monarchs were not going out silently and made their own 6-0 run with Salvia producing two consecutive kills, making it 9-9. King's maintained their momentum and answered Penn State- Hazleton's points throughout the set. Salvia had the last kill of the second set for the Monarchs before the Nittany Lions earned the last two points to win 25-21. 
 
The third set began much like the first with King's maintaining to get within two points of Penn State- Hazleton. The Monarchs made a three kill push, two from Joy Kindall (So.) and one from Heiser-Elsea, taking the lead 20-18. With a pair of kills by Lindsay Arezina (Fy.) and Kindall, the last efforts of King's tied the set 23-23. Though the Nittany Lions took the third set 25-23.  
 
In the final set of the night, the Nittany Lions came out strong. Yet, the Monarchs were not going down silently. By chipping away at the deficit, King's were able to get within one by point by having a 12-7 run, making the match 16-15. The Monarchs continued to battle and with a kill by Scott and an ace by Keely Hoban (Jr.), the score was tied 21-21. Penn State- Hazleton eventually took the set 25-23.  
 
King's ended the night with 58 kills, 55 assists, seven aces, 75 digs, and a hitting percentage of .204. Hoban sparked the team with 31 assists and Viannce Sinocruz (Fy.) followed with 14. Kindall led the team with 14 kills and three digs. Heiser-Elsea had a career high of 10 kills and two blocks. Salvia had her own 10 kills with 14 digs. Morgan Williams (So.) had a team high of 15 digs and Adriana Conforti (Jr.) had 13 of her own.  
 
The Nittany Lions' Sophia Del Vacchio fueled the team with 40 assists, five aces, three blocks, and nine digs. Nora Jones (Fy.) had a team high of 14 kills with 17 digs. Sydney Mack (So.) followed with 12 kills and ten digs. Alayna Welsh (So.) led the team in digs with 18.  
 
The Monarchs are back in action this Saturday, September 9^th for a home tri-match in McGrane Gymnasium beginning at 12pm against SUNY Cobleskill and taking on Wilson College at 4pm. The team will be back on the road on September 12^th to battle against Marywood.