WILKES-BARRE, PA (September 25, 2024) -- The King's College women's volleyball team opened their Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom play on Wednesday evening against the Knights of Arcadia (10-3, 0-1 MAC Freedom). The Monarchs fell 3-1 to the Knights (6-7, 1-0 MAC Freedom) in McGrane Gymnasium.
 
It was a battle to start the MAC Freedom contest as there were seven ties and two lead changes. King's were in control for much of the first set as Arcadia stayed on their heels looking to take over. The Monarchs created a 5-1 push to make the score 11-7 and force a Knights timeout. Arcadia continued to pester King's throughout the set and began trading points with the hosts. The Monarchs had a 3-0 spurt that included tallies by Theresa Lynch (Jr.) and Brynn Giordano (So.) to make it 23-20. Though Arcadia was not going down without a fight and scored five straight points to take the first set 25-23.
 
King's came back with vengeance with a 8-3 burst to begin the second set that comprised of tips made by Riley McArdle (Fy.), Lindsay Arezina (So.), Emma Bolich (So.), and Kathy Shepherd (Jr.). The Monarchs maintained their momentum and made a 13-4 push after tallies by Jessica Menze (Fy.), Shepherd, and Arezina to gain a 23-11 cushion. The Knights would make a final 4-1 spurt before falling to King's 25-15.
 
The third set was much like the first as both adversaries went back-and-forth that resulted in the score tying five separate times. It was neck-and-neck until it was even at 8-8 when Arcadia produced a 9-2 run to take the lead. The Monarchs stayed composed and got within three after back-to-back kills made by Menze and Bella Salvia (Jr.). King's fought hard but the Knights ultimately won the third set 25-20.
 
The fourth set was a must win situation for the Monarchs to force a fifth and final round. The scoreboard was deadlocked at 6-6 after a kill by Salvia when Arcadia responded back with four straight points to control the matchup. From then on, the visitors were ahead of their hosts and the Knights remained victorious 25-17.
 
The Monarchs ended with 39 kills on 37 assists, seven aces, seven blocks, and 65 digs. Shepherd set a standard of seven kills, while Arezina and Menze had six each. Keely Hoban (Sr.) dished out 19 assists and Viannce Sinocruz (So.) followed with her own 12. Morgan Williams (Jr.) fueled the defensive end with 25 digs.
 
Arcadia finished with 53 kills, 52 assists, nine aces, and 73 digs. Nicole Dallara (Sr.) recorded a double-double of 16 kills and 17 digs. Julianna Lloyd (Fy.) produced her 15 kills and Bryana Saenz (Fy.) sparked the offense with 41 assists. Defensively, Hannah Sanchez (So.) deposited 18 digs with six assists.
 
King's will have a short break before taking on the Nittany Lions of Penn State Hazleton at 6 p.m. on Friday, September 27^th. The squad will have their first MAC Freedom road test as they travel to Doylestown, PA to battle against the Aggies of Delaware Vally at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, October 1^st.