Reading, Pa. (Sept. 29, 2022) - Alvernia University (7-6) defeated Penn State Harrisburg (9-5) 3-2 in a five set thriller Thursday night in a non-conference women's volleyball match at Alvernia. 

Penn State Harrisburg got off to a hot start, jumping out to a 10-2 lead early in the first set. 

The Golden Wolves battled back, going on a 6-2 run that closed the gap to 12-8. Allie Evangelista and Rachel Sipling both tallied two kills during the run. 

Harrisburg extended its lead to 20-15 before ending the first set on a 5-2 run to take set one 25-17. 

The second set started with Alvernia jumping out to a 12-3 lead with kills from Jamie Pierce and Pressley Carnes. Juliana McGlone and Sipling both tallied two kills. 

Harrisburg would get two points back before the Golden Wolves ripped off a 9-1 scoring run to extend the lead to 21-6. Evangelista and Pierce both added kills with Partica Falar and McGlone both tallying two kills each. 

Alvernia closed out the second set 25-12 with Sipling adding two kills and Presley Carnes hammered home a kill to even the match at 1-1. 

The Golden Wolves opened the third set with another big lead, this one being 11-3. Sipling added two kills and Evangelista added a kill and back to back blocks. 

Alvernia extended its lead to 16-9 before Harrisburg fought back and closed the gap to just three. Alvernia in the lead 19-16. 

The Golden Wolves ripped off a 6-1 scoring run to close out the third set 25-17 with Sipling tallying two kills and two aces during the run. Alvernia would take a 2-1 lead in the match. 

Alvernia jumped out to a 14-5 lead to open up the fourth set with Sipling hammering home five kills during the run and Carnes tallied two. 

Alvernia and Harrisburg traded points with Alvernia maintaining a 20-12 lead late in the fourth. 

Harrisburg would then go on a 12-3 scoring run to take the lead at 24-23. 

Alvernia fought back to tie it at 27 before Harrisburg scored back to back points to take set four 29-27 and even the match at two. 

Alvernia and Harrisburg battled back and forth at the start of the fifth set before Alvernia took a 9-5 lead. The Golden Wolves would outscore Harrisburg 6-5 to take the fifth set 15-10 and the match 3-2. Sipling hammered home the final two kills for Alvernia. 

The Golden Wolves were led by Falar with 58 assists. Sipling tallied a team high 31 kills and Abigail McGinley and Jordan Thompson tallied 14 digs a piece. Evangelista led the Golden Wolves with four blocks. 

Alvernia is back in action on Monday when they host Penn State Berks at 7:00 PM.