Hounds Earn Five-Set Victory over Penn State-Harrisburg

BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian University women's volleyball squad hosted Penn State-Harrisburg in a non-conference contest in Johnston Hall, with the Greyhounds needing five sets to take down the Nittany Lions, 3-2, on Tuesday evening.

How It Happened

• The Greyhounds scored the first two points of the match before Penn State-Harrisburg got on the board. Moravian would tally five-consecutive points to garner a 12-5 lead, and would continue to extend it even further as the Blue and Grey won the first set 25-15
• Penn State-Harrisburg earned a service ace to kick off the second set, but the Greyhounds scored the next three points. The Nittany Lions jumped out to a 13-8 lead before Moravian got on a run, cutting the deficit to just one point, 16-15. Penn State-Harrisburg pulled away and evened the match at 1-1 with a 25-19 victory
• The third set was all Greyhounds as they went on a run with junior setter Natalia Matos serving for three service aces and eight-straight points to take a 13-3 lead. Penn State-Harrisburg did not go down quietly, cutting the lead to three points before Moravian claimed the third set, 25-21 and took a 2-1 lead in the match
• Senior outside hitter Sela Herber started off the fourth set serving the Greyhounds to a 5-0 lead. Things quickly escalated when the Nittany Lions fired back with five points of their own to a 5-5 tie. There would be three lead changes and seven ties throughout set and Moravian got within three points late in the set before Penn State-Harrisburg scored five-straight points win 25-17 and force a fifth set.
• Four lead changes and seven ties later, this closely contested set saw both squads go back and forth, including being tied at 13-13, but the Greyhounds would close out the Nittany Lions and claim the fifth set, 15-13, and the match 3-2.

Inside the Numbers

• Senior outside hitter Kirah Dreisbach led Moravian with 12 kills and added 19 digs.
• Herber finished with eight kills, 15 digs, an assist, and a block while senior Renee Mapa contributed six kills, four blocks, two digs and an assist.
• Matos led the Greyhounds in multiple categories with 33 assists, 20 digs and four service aces while adding four kills.
• Junior libero Gabby Mancini added nine digs, two assists and two services aces while freshman Jenna Deegan had five kills, four blocks and two digs. 

Up Next for the Greyhounds

• Friday, September 24 at Cedar Crest College, 7:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, September 28 vs. Bryn Athyn College, 7:00 p.m.