Kent State Tuscarawas Women's Volleyball Claims 1st National Championship

UNIONTOWN, Pa. – Jaileigh Price had 15 kills and Tournament Most Valuable Player Mackenzie Neininger added 12 kills for Kent State-Tuscarawas as they defeated Penn State Hazleton 28-26, 25-13, 25-17 for the USCAA Division 2 National Championship on Saturday.

A wild first set saw 18 ties and 12 lead changes as the teams held no more than a three-point advantage throughout the opening set. Rylee Sensabaugh took a feed from Ava McFarland and smashed the set winning point as Kent State Tuscarawas won 28-26.

The Golden Eagles raced out to a 12-4 lead in the second set behind a kill from Ally Carpenter. A kill from Elizabeth Keller pushed the advantage to 17-7 as Price ended the second with a spike as Kent State-Tuscarawas won 25-13.

Penn State Hazleton jumped out to an early 3-1 lead in the third set, but that was erased as Kent State-Tuscarawas went on a 12-1 run to gain control at 13-4 on a Price kill en route to the 25-13 third set.

Keller had nine kills and 17 digs for Kent State-Tuscarawas, while Madison Mook had four service aces and Ava McFarland added 41 assists. Sydney Mack had 11 kills to lead Penn State Hazleton and Nora Jones had a match-high 25 digs.

In the third-place match, Kaitlyn Finnigan had 10 kills and five blocks to lead Cincinnati-Clermont to a 25-14, 25-19, 25-9 win over Penn State Mont Alto.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

UC-CLERMONT: Kaitlyn Finnigan

PENN STATE HAZLETON: Sophia Del Vacchio, Sydney Mack

KENT STATE-TUSCARAWAS: Cayla Shrimplin, Jaleigh Price

MVP: KENT STATE-TUSCARAWAS – Mackenzie Neininger