The Golden Eagles volleyball team split a pair of games to top-ranked USCAA teams on the road as they finished their season just below .500. The Eagles were highly competitive in both matches and were up to the challenges presented to them in McKeesport, PA on Saturday and finished 9-11 on the year.

In the opening match, the Navy and Gold took down Penn State Fayette whose sterling 21-2 record carried them to a USCAA D-2 ranking of third in the nation. The Lions won the opening set 25-14, but KSU Tusc rallied to win three straight sets (25-18, 25-14, 25-19) in a 3-1 win. Mya Blochlinger had 12 kills in the match, while Dessa Dubbert added 10 kills to go along with 10 digs and Morgain Little posted nine kills. Mackenzie Sentz recorded 25 digs and Karlee Peach had 43 assists and 10 digs of her own.

In the final match of the day, the USCAA D-2, fourth-ranked Nittany Lions from PSU Greater Allegheny presented another huge obstacle for KSU. The Lions won in three straight sets, 25-18, 25-21 and 28-26, but they were fighting for their lives every step of the way. With the final set tied at 26-26, PSUGA won the final two points to seal the victory.

Playing without Blochlinger who twisted her ankle in the final set against Fayette, the Eagles scraped and clawed the whole way and did not make things comfortable for the winners. Little had 12 kills, Dubbert had nine kills and 13 digs, while Jamie Myers had 11 digs and Peach had 25 assists in her last volleyball game in a Golden Eagles uniform.

Dessa Dubbert makes a one-handed dig against PSU Fayette. 

Mackenzie Sentz digs a kills shot by PSU Fayette.       (Photos by Shilo Moore Little)