Pioneers Sweep Tri-Match at Penn College

The Alfred State volleyball team won a pair of matches at Penn College on Saturday. The Pioneers swept the hosts 3-0 and then won a back and forth 3-2 battle with Cairn University.

In a 25-20, 25-5, 27-25 victory over Penn College, the Pioneers collected 13 service aces and hit .217 in the contest. Kiara Perkins (Coudersport, PA) led the team with 10 kills while Alyssa Fox (Letchworth) finished with nine kills and a team high 15 digs. Jordan McCooey (Horseheads) passed out 29 assists, Megan Gridley (Corning Painted Post) had 11 digs, and Mya VanDuyne (Newark) served 13 consecutive times in the second set.

Alfred State took the first two sets vs. Cairn 25-22 and 25-17 but the Highlanders rallied with 18-25, 23-25 victories to force a decisive 5th set. In the 5th set, the Pioneers jumped out to a 5-3 lead but Cairn rallied and led 7-6. The set was tied at 8-8 and 9-9 before the Pioneers scored five of the next seven points to take control.

Perkins finished with 15 kills and 20 digs for Alfred State (4-5) while Alyssa Martin (Portville) chipped in nine big kills. McCooey passed out 33 assists, Gridley had 17 digs, and Fox chipped in nine digs and four kills. Middle hitters VanDuyne and Isabella Slocum (Hornell/Cal-Mum) both had key kills and finished with four total kills each.

The Pioneers and Penn College meet again on Wednesday when the Wildcats travel to Alfred. The home opener for the Pioneers starts at 7 p.m.