A FAMILIAR PLACE: Fayette punches ticket to seventh straight PSUAC volleyball final

LEMONT FURNACE – For the seventh consecutive year, the Lady Roaring Lions are headed to the PSUAC women's volleyball championship match. Fayette punched its ticket to the finals with a hard-fought 3-0 win over a gallant Penn State Greater Allegheny squad.

Fayette won by scores of 25-12, 25-10 and 25-18.

Samantha Helmantoler (Monongahela, Pa.) led the offense with 11 kills. Courtney Haines (McClellandtown, Pa.) added nine, Kelsey Tyler (California, Pa.) and Emily Caldwell (Belle Vernon) 7. Emily Konter (Brownsville, Pa.) dished out 35 assists while Caldwell led the defense with 19 digs and Caitlin Williams (Dunbar, Pa.) added 14.

In game one, Laura Vasquez' kill gave Greater Allegheny an 8-5 lead. The Lady Roaring Lions (20-4, 16-0) stormed back recording the next 11 points under the serve of Caldwell. Fayette then ripped off 7 of the last 10 points to take game one.

The second game also saw Fayette register two long scoring runs. With the score tied a four, Tyler started the first run with a kill from Konter. That brought Caldwell to the service line and she presided over 12-point run that featured three hils from Sam Helmatoler and three from Haines.

Adrielle Brisbon's kill stopped the Fayette run, for only momentarily. The Lady Roaring Lions then later scored the six in a row, highlighted by a three service  aces from Victoria Helmantoler. That built the lead 22-8 and Fayette was on its way.

GA closed to 11-7 before Sam Helmantoler's kill started seven point run that featured three aces from Victoria Helmantoler and gave Fayette a commanding 18-7 lead. The Lady Roaring Lions then closed out the game with a 7-3 run.

The final game was much tighter until Fayette ripped off another seven point run started by a kill from Haines and gave Fayette a 20-12 lead. GA then closed to 24-16 before the Lady Roaring Lions put the game on ice and punched their ticket to the final for the seventh consecutive year and also continued Fayette's home winning streak against PSUAC opponents to 64. No PSUAC opponent has defeated Fayette at home since 2007.

Fayette will face Penn State Brandywine – a 3-2 winner over Penn State Mont Alto at 1:00 p.m. at Rec. Hall in University Park.