Tale sets record, VB 4-0 at PSUAC Crossover
The Penn State Fayette volleyball team looked to have an impressive showing at the second annual Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) Crossover over the weekend.
Impressive is an understatement as two of the teams Fayette beat entered the weekend without any conference losses.
Fayette (13-2, 6-1) swept all four of its opponents and has now won five straight matches without losing a set.
"I am very proud of the girls," said head coach Sam Swetz. "This is a great start moving forward to the next half of the season."
The opening win of the weekend came Saturday at the University Park White Building over PSU Brandywine (5-11, 4-1), 26-24, 25-18 and 25-9.
PSU Brandywine entered the match undefeated in PSUAC play.
Angel Buwawa (Uniontown, PA/Laurel Highlands) had 14 digs, Machaela Hall (Fairchance, PA/Albert Gallatin HS) added 13 digs and Siteri Tale (Uniontown/Laurel Highlands HS) had seven kills.
Fayette downed PSU Hazleton (5-9, 3-3) early Sunday at the White Building, 25-12, 25-6 and 25-14.
Jadyn Barnish (Carmichaels, Carmichaels HS) had 14 assists and Hall added eight digs.
Next up was PSU Lehigh Valley (6-6, 3-2) at the White Building with the scores being 25-23, 25-18, 25-16.
Justyne Howell (Hunker, PA/Southmoreland HS) recorded 16 assists, Hall had 14 digs, Tale had 14 kills and Buwawa added eight kills.
Fayette concluded play Sunday at the legendary Rec Hall with a sweep of PSU Schuylkill, 25-18, 25-14 and 25-15.
Hall had 16 digs and four aces, Barnish (21) and Howell (13) combined for 34 assists and Buwawa had nine kills and eight digs.
In the win over PSU Schuylkill (8-7, 6-1), which entered the weekend without a conference loss, Tale broke Fayette's record for kills when she recorded the 1,166th of her career.
Leah Ambrosini held the previous record of 1,165 since setting it in 2013.
Tale spoke about the weekend, the record and what lies ahead.
"Each game and each team had great performers and we came to play," she said before speaking about the record. "It's an honor to have an accomplishment like this.
"For the rest of the season, I feel that this weekend really showed that we can give it our all at every game, whether it is back to back or not, and play to win."
Swetz talked about the reigning United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) and PSUAC Player of the Year.
"I couldn't be prouder of her," Swetz said of Tale. "She is a kid you want to succeed."
Fayette heads to Carlow for a non-conference match Tuesday.
This will be the second matchup between the teams as Fayette swept Carlow on September 14.
For more information on the volleyball team, go to https://www.psfathletics.com/sports/wvball/index.