Lady Roaring Lions win sixth consecutive championship
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Samantha Helmantoler (Ringgold) totaled 11 kills in Sunday's PSUAC Women's Volleyball Championship match, but none were bigger than number 11. Swinging from the left side, her powerful strike struck the arm of a Brandywine player and bounced harmlessly to the floor, giving the Lady Roaring Lions their sixth consecutive PSUAC championship.
2013 PSUAC Player of the Year Emily Konter (Brownsville) directed the offense with 22 assists and added seven kills. Megan Manack (Frazier) and Kelsey Tyler (California) also chipped in with seven kills as the Lady Roaring Lions won by scores of 25-13, 25-12 and 30-28.
Leading 9-7 in the first set, Fayette ran off six straight points, five coming from the serve of Janelle Cooper (Laurel Highlands), to take a 15-7 lead. Nicole Costa's kill stopped the streak for Brandywine but then Fayette ran off another five in a row highlighted by a pair of kills from Manack and one from Katlyn Salisbury (Yough). A kill by Cooper and a blocking error closed out the first set.
The second set was much like the first, with Fayette running off the final five points to take a commanding two games to none lead.
Game three was by far the most entertaining of the match. With the score tied at 10, Brandywine ran off the next six points. Trailing 21-18, a Manack kill triggered a 5-0 run that gave Fayette a 23-21 lead.
With Brandywine poised to take the set with a 25-24 lead, Helmantoler's kill tied it. Fayette then fought off four set points before a Konter kill gave Fayette a 29-28 lead and set up Helmantoler's match-winning kill.
Konter led the team in digs with 12, and Emily Caldwell (Belle Vernon) added 11. Caitlyn Williams (Connellsville) added six and Cooper and Tori Helmantoler (Ringgold) each added five.
Fayette was strong at the net, with Manack recording five blocks, Salisbury four, Cooper and Sam Helmantoler with three, Tyler with two and Frankie Legros (Brownsville) one.
Fayette (23-9, 18-0 PSUAC) now advances to the USCAA Women's Volleyball National Championships in Canton, N.Y. beginning Thursday when if faced Daemen College at 10:00 a.m.