VB loses in USCAA national semifinal

Virginia Beach, VA - The Penn State Fayette volleyball program was eliminated Friday afternoon in the USCAA Division II national semifinals as the team fell to Johnson & Wales, 3-0.

After the contest, head coach Sam Swetz talked about the team and how it only loses one player.

"It is emotional to lose, but it isn't because they'll all be back except Chanel (Porter)," she said. "They will be ready because this young team accomplished something that no one else (in program history) did by making it to the Final Four of the first-ever Division II national championship.

"That's something to be proud of."

In the first set, Fayette (22-9) fells behind 7-2 but clawed back to tie it at 15-15.

However, Johnson & Wales (18-14) outscored the Nittany Lions 10-5 the rest of the way to take the first set, 25-20.

Fayette fought hard in the second set as well and was able to tie the set at 22-22, but it came up short, 25-23.

In the third and final set, Fayette fell 25-16.

Jadyn Barnish (Carmichaels, Carmichaels HS) had 20 assists and eight digs, Chanel Porter (Cumberland, MD/Allegany HS) had 11 digs, Machaela Hall (Fairchance, PA/Albert Gallatin HS) had 10 digs, and Siteri Tale (Uniontown/Laurel Highlands HS) had eight digs.

The team has one more matchup tomorrow as it plays in the third-place contest.

For more information on the championships, go to http://uscaafallchampionships.com/2018_Championships/2018_Division_II_Bracket.pdf.

For more information on the volleyball team, go to https://www.psfathletics.com/sports/wvball/index.  

Written by Bill Hughes