On Saturday, the Golden Eagles swept a tri match winning both matches in three sets. It marked the seventh time in nine victories on the season that KSU Tusc has accomplished 3-0 set wins, as they also avenged an early season defeat to USCAA stalwart Cincinnati Clermont.

In the opening match of the day the Eagles subscribed to the adage that how you start is how you finish. They raced out to early 4-0 and 5-0 leads in the first two sets against Penn State New Kensington, behind the serving of Kylie Culbertson as the navy and gold built insurmountable leads of 18-6 and 22-9.

The third set was close at 9-7 with KSU Tusc leading, until they busted out on a 5-0 run to double up the Lions 14-7. They used another 5-0 spurt to take a 19-9 advantage on their way to a 12-point 24-12 lead and finally winning 25-15.

Against UC Clermont in the finale of the afternoon, the Eagles came out with a lot of intensity in their three-set victory. They lost to the Cougars in five sets in the USCAA Tip-Off Classic at PSU Beaver just two weeks before. The Eagles largest lead of the opening set was 10-6 as the stanza see-sawed back and forth in a 25-20 win.

The second set was another closely contested battle and with the score knotted at 21-21, Lizzy Keller came up big behind the service line. She served up the last four points in a 25-21 win and take a 2-0 match lead as the Eagles soared with confidence.

In what would be the final set of the afternoon, the Cougars held a slim 3-2 lead as Tusc's Cayla Shrimplin stepped up to serve. Eight straight service points later it was a 10-3 Golden Eagles lead that forced UCC to ask for a timeout. Shrimplin helped her own cause by making some acrobatic one-handed saves near the back line, as the Eagles outlasted Clermont on some long rallies to propel themselves to a 25-15 set win and a sweep of the match.

Even when KSU led 18-9 and 22-12 the lead did not seem comfortable enough against a well-coached Cougar squad, but the Eagles showed that they are a team to be reckoned with as well.

On Saturday, September 23, the Eagles (9-1) host PSU New Kensington and Edison State in another tri match. KSU Tusc will play against the Lions at 11 a.m. and the Chargers at 3 p.m.

Alivia Spaulding reacts to a tipped ball at the net assisted by Kylie Culbertson.

Addison Gordon makes a dig near the sideline versus UCC.

(Photos by Rob Brindley)

High flying Taliyah Johnson makes a kill against UC Clermont.

Cayla Shrimplin digs a ball in the back row.

(Photos by Lindsey Nicholson)