Lady Lions back on track with 3-0 win at York

York, Pa. - Hazleton put an end to a six game skid on Friday night with a three set sweep at Penn State York. York kept it close in this one but each time Hazleton was able to pull through for slim victories by scores of 25-22, 27-25 and 25-20, improving their record to 4-5 in Penn State University Athletic Conference play and 6-11 overall. 

Hazleton was plagued by 11 service errors on the evening but out-hit York 26-15 in the kills category to come home with the 3-0 sweep. The match boiled down to a pivotal comeback by the Lady Lions in the second frame. Hazleton trailed York by as many as 11 points midway through the set until the Lions stormed back to knot the score at 20 points each and eventually claim a two set advantage over York. Hazleton carried that momentum into the final frame for their easiest win of the night to close out the match.

Junior Abby Bessoir (Dunmore, Pa.) led the way with nine kills, three aces and 13 digs while fellow hitter, freshman RosaLydia Caputo (Howard Beach, Ny.), added eight kills and three blocked shots in the winning effort. Sophomore Alessandra Banta (Coatesville, Pa.) tallied a game high 23 assists from the setter position with freshman libero Caitlyn Williams (Kingsley, Pa.) totaling 17 digs to lead the squad defensively. 

Next up: Friday night's win vaults the Lady Lions back into playoff contention. Hazleton now stands even with Penn State York in the win column and holds the tiebreaker with a pair of victories over their southern Pennsylvania rival. Hazleton resumes PSUAC play on Tuesday, October 15 when the Lions host Penn State Schuylkill at 7:00 p.m. in the Dr. Thomas M. Cacesse Gymnasium.