Game 1 Recap: Penn State Shenango (3) vs. Penn State New Kensington (2)

Penn State Shenango (6-9, 5-0) pulled out a gritty 3-2 victory in a five-set battle against Penn State New Kensington (7-4, 2-1). The Lions won the first two sets by identical 25-19 scores before New Kensington bounced back to take sets three and four (25-23, 25-19). Shenango showed tremendous resilience, securing the decisive fifth set 17-15 to remain unbeaten in conference play.

Cyra Cross was a standout for Shenango, delivering 12 kills on 31 attempts with a solid .323 hitting percentage. She also tallied 10 digs and 13.0 total points. Sydney Ward provided another impressive offensive performance with nine kills on 17 attempts, hitting a superb .529 while contributing defensively with three digs and one block assist. Ward finished with 11.0 total points.

Kylee Loreno was a consistent force, recording 11 kills without an error, hitting .458 on 24 attempts. Loreno also added six digs and played a pivotal role in Shenango's attack. Setter Jade Shattuck directed the offense, contributing 10 assists, two kills, and two aces, while libero Emma Murdock anchored the defense with 15 digs.

With contributions from multiple players, Shenango's balanced attack and strong defense helped them prevail in this back-and-forth contest.

Game 2 Recap: Kent State Tuscarawas (3) vs. Penn State Shenango (0)

In the second match of the day, Penn State Shenango (6-9, 5-0) struggled against a strong Kent State Tuscarawas team, falling 3-0 (25-17, 25-6, 25-13). The Lions were unable to find their rhythm after their earlier triumph, resulting in a straight-set loss.

Despite the defeat, Sydney Ward continued her strong play, leading the team with four kills on seven attempts, a .429 hitting percentage, and dominating at the net with five solo blocks and four block assists, finishing with 11.0 total points. Cyra Cross added three kills and 11 digs, while setter Kylee Loreno contributed three assists and 14 digs in another strong defensive showing.

Jill Dunleavy added two kills on three attempts, hitting an efficient .667, and Maggie Briggs played a key role defensively with three block assists. Gabby Villanueva Santos and Emma Murdock each recorded 11 and 13 digs, respectively, as Shenango's back-row defense tried to keep them in the game.

Despite the setback, Penn State Shenango remains undefeated in conference play and will look to regroup and build on their positive performances heading into their next match.

Penn State Shenango will look to bounce back after splitting the tri-match, focusing on their undefeated conference record as they continue to push for a postseason berth.