Box Score

HUNTINGDON, Pa. – A late run in game one sparked the Gettysburg volleyball team to a 3-0 win over Penn State Behrend in NCAA Division III Mid-Atlantic Regional action Thursday evening.

Gettysburg (21-12) will now face Eastern in the regional semifinals, the third consecutive year in which the two programs have met on the tournament's opening Friday.

Penn State Behrend, which was making its first-ever NCAA Division III Volleyball Championship appearance, closes its season with a record of 26-8. The Bullets claimed the match by game scores of 30-26, 30-25, 34-32.

Game one was up for grabs late in the contest with the two teams tied at 25. Gettysburg then seized control with a three-point spurt, highlighted by kills from Lauren Thul (Flemington, NJ/Hunterdon Central) and Jayme Massey (Springfield, PA/Merion Mercy Acad.) to take a 28-25 lead. The Lions halted the run with a point but a ball-handling error and a kill from Erica Rau (Oakland Park, FL/Pine Crest) capped the game one win for the Bullets.

Gettysburg used that momentum to jump out to a big lead in game two. The third-seed Bullets scored 11 of the first 16 points of the game to force a Penn State Behrend timeout. A service ace from Steph Vial (Hanover, PA/Delone Catholic) extended the lead to 17-7. The Lions would keep battling, however, getting to within three points at 28-25 following a kill from Elaine Voltz. A Lions hitting error stopped the run, and Gettysburg closed the game with a Katie Potochney (Roselle, NJ/Roselle Catholic) service ace.

The Lions held the edge for most of game three as a double block from Voltz and Paige Payer gave the visitors a 14-11 edge. The lead would grow as big as six points, but Gettysburg slowly inched back, drawing even at 28 points apiece after a setting error. Each team would have a chance to seal the game, including two chances for Penn State Behrend with the last coming at 31-30 after a Sarah Webb finish.

 But Gettysburg countered, moving in front 33-32 before Rau closed the match with her 13th kill.

Rau led all players with 13 finishes, while Thul and Massey added 11 and 10 respectively. Shannan Smith (Milmont Park, PA/Ridley) passed out 42 assists for the Bullets and was in double figures with 12 digs. Vial led the team with 36 digs while Massey and Thul both had three blocks.

 Voltz was in double figures in kills for the Lions, pounding out 12 finishes. Amanda Evans directed the Penn State Behrend offense with 32 assists.

Gettysburg d. Penn State Behrend, 3-0 (30-26, 30-25, 34-32)

Penn State Behrend Leaders
Kills: Elaine Voltz 12, Lisa Wagner 8, Karla Murray 8
Digs: Wagner 21, Murray 18, Brittany Hennessy 18
Assists: Amanda Evans 32
Blocks: Voltz 5, Paige Payer 5
Service Aces: Deanna Ciccarelli 3

Gettysburg Leaders
Kills: Erica Rau 13, Lauren Thul 11, Jayme Massey 10
Digs: Steph Vial 36, Katie Potochney 15
Assists: Shannan Smith 42
Blocks: Thul 3, Massey 3
Service Aces: Rau 2, Vial 2