VB wins USCAA National Championship

All season long, Penn State Fayette women's volleyball coach Sam Swetz spoke about her team aiming to win the United States Collegiate Athletic Association National Championship.

Saturday, all of the hard work since last season's third place finish at the USCAA's paid off as the Nittany Lions (30-3) defeated defending champion Johnson & Wales in a four-set thriller to win the crown.

"I am so proud of the team for this incredible season," Swetz said while fighting her emotions. "My mental state of mind has been on national championships all season and I knew that we had the talent to do it.  We proved it today.  This is such a great group of girls with the team as the number one priority.  For them to finish 3-3 is absolutely amazing."

 Fayette won by deuce in the first set, 26-24, to take the advantage.

In the second set, Fayette took a commanding 2-0 lead with a 25-21 lead.

Johnson & Wales would not go down without a fight, and it won the third set, 25-18.

In the fourth and final set, Fayette won 25-23 to clinch the national championship.

Angel Buwawa (Uniontown, PA/Laurel Highlands) had a huge kill to break a 23-23 tie in the fourth set, and Swetz said she knew at that moment that the team was about to win the championship.

"That was when I knew it was ours," Swetz said.

Siteri Tale (Uniontown/Laurel Highlands HS) closed out her amazing career with 19 kills and 11 digs.

"Siteri did amazing and had the game of her life," Swetz said. "She proved today why she is the best in the USCAA."

Machaela Hall (Fairchance, PA/Albert Gallatin HS) had 23 digs, Jadyn Barnish (Carmichaels, Carmichaels HS) added 20 assists and 10 digs and Kayla Zelonka (East Vandergrift, PA/Kiski HS) recorded four blocks.

"Machaela played with amazing confidence and completely showed out," Swetz said. "I am so proud of her and how far she has come."

Swetz also spoke about Barnish.

"Jadyn played amazing," she said. "We are so excited to have her for another two seasons."

Swetz finished by speaking about Tale and Kiki Martin (Brownsville, PA/Brownsville HS, the two seniors on the team.

"Our two seniors will be deeply missed," she said. "I love them so much and have watched them grow into phenomenal people on and off the court."

For more information on the championships, go to

www.uscaafallchampionships.com.

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