IMMACULATA, Pa. – Immaculata women's volleyball battled Penn State Abington through five competitive sets on Thursday evening at Alumnae Hall, but the Mighty Macs fell to the Nittany Lions, 3-2. Immaculata dropped the opening set 29-27 before responding to win the next two sets, 25-20 and 25-23. Penn State Abington forced a decisive fifth set with a 25-14 fourth-set victory before taking the final frame 15-3.
With the loss Immaculata falls to 2-4, while Penn State Abington improves to 3-1 on the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED AGAINST PENN STATE ABINGTON
- The opening set featured a back-and-forth battle from start to finish, with neither side able to pull away. Madi Kyle, Tara Hirschtritt and Antonia Antolini provided offensive production for the Mighty Macs as Immaculata continued to answer Abington's runs. The set reached a 24-24 tie before the teams traded points all the way to 27-27. Abington scored the final two points to take the opening frame, 29-27.
- Immaculata responded strongly in the second set, using contributions throughout the lineup to build an early advantage. Kyle continued to provide an offensive spark, while Hirschtritt and Antolini helped keep the Mighty Macs in system offensively. Abington made a push midway through the frame, but Immaculata regained control late to secure the 25-20 victory and even the match at 1-1.
- The third set was another tightly contested affair, with the Mighty Macs and Nittany Lions trading momentum throughout the frame. Hirschtritt and Antolini continued to produce offensively, while Kyle added to her strong night at the net. Immaculata made the plays it needed down the stretch and held on for a 25-23 victory to take a 2-1 match lead.
- Abington came out strong in the fourth set and gradually created separation from the Mighty Macs. Immaculata continued to battle and looked for opportunities to regain momentum, but the Nittany Lions maintained control of the frame and forced a fifth set with a 25-14 victory.
- The decisive fifth set belonged to Abington, which opened the frame with a quick advantage. The Mighty Macs were unable to generate the same offensive rhythm they had shown during the middle two sets, as the Nittany Lions closed out the match with a 15-3 fifth-set victory.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Adriana Ventura led Immaculata on the defensive side with 30 digs.
- Kyle led the Mighty Macs with 10 kills and added 11 digs.
- Hirschtritt 17 assists, eight kills, and 12 digs.
- Antolini finished with eight kills.
- Angelica Santini Bulerin had 16 assists, six kills, and seven digs.
- Eliana Szatkowski had four service aces and three blocks.
- Immaculata won the second and third sets after dropping the opening frame in extra points.
- The Mighty Macs and Nittany Lions combined for 52 points in the opening set.
UP NEXT
- Immaculata returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 12, competing in the York Tri-Match at York College of Pennsylvania. The Mighty Macs face the host Spartans at 11 a.m. before taking on FDU-Florham at 1 p.m.
