Reading, Pa (September 28, 2023) - Alvernia University (7-4) took down Neumann University (9-7) 3-0, in straight sets in a non-conference women's volleyball matchup Thursday evening at Alvernia's PEC. 

The Golden Wolves took the first set 25-18, snuck one out in the second set by a score of 25-22 and took the third set 25-12 to secure the 3-0 sweep of the Knights. 

Alvernia jumped out to an early 8-2 lead thanks to two aces from Abigail McGinley and kills from Julianna McGlone, Rachel Sipling and Cierra Roberts. 

The Knights grabbed two quick points back, but the Golden Wolves responded with four straight points thanks to back to back kills by Sipling as they maintained a 12-4 lead. 

Both teams traded points back and forth with Neumann cutting the Alvernia lead to five, 15-10, but Alvernia responded with three straight points to keep the lead at eight, 18-10. 

Neumann tallied eight of the next 11 points to cut the deficit to 21-18, but the Golden Wolves ripped off the final four points of the set to take set one by a score of 25-18. Sipling tallied an ace to clinch the set and Jamie Pierce hammered home a kill during the run. 

The Knights responded in the second set and jumped out to a quick 5-2 lead but the Golden Wolves responded with four straight, including back to back aces from Jordan Thompson to take a 6-5 lead. 

Both Alvernia and Neumann traded points back and forth with Alvernia holding a slight, 10-9 advantage but the Knights responded with a 5-1 run to take the lead, 14-11. 

Neumann continued to score points and the Golden Wolves continued to match the Knights until the Golden Wolves recorded a 5-1 scoring run to knot the set at 19 late in the second. 

Neumann grabbed the slight lead thanks to a kill from Jules Dill but the Golden Wolves tallied six of the final eight points to take the second set 25-22 and take a 2-0 advantage in the match. Pierce hammered home the set clinching kill, Sipling added two and Emma Remaley tallied a kill during the run. 

The Golden Wolves continued to dominate in the third set as they jumped out to an early 9-3 lead after Sipling tallied two kills, McGinley and McGlone recorded aces and Lindsay Ferguson and Remaley recorded two combined blocks during the run. 

The Knights fought back and recorded four points but the Golden Wolves matched them with their own six to hold a 15-7 advantage. 

Neumann tallied three straight points to cut the lead to five, 15-10 but Alvernia responded with five of the next six points to extend the lead to 20-11. McGinley, Sipling, Remaley and McGlone all recorded kills during the run and Ferguson and Remaley tallied another block together. 

Neumann grabbed one back but it was enough as the Golden Wolves scored five of the final six points to take the third set 25-12 and secure the 3-0 sweep. Sipling hammered home two kills during the match clinching run for Alvernia. 

Sipling led the Golden Wolves with 14 kills and added nine digs and four blocks. McGinley led Alvernia with four aces and 17 digs, Patrica Falar recorded a team high 24 assists and Ferguson and Remaley both tallied five block assists on the night. 

The Golden Wolves are back in action next Wednesday when they host the Falcons of Messiah in a MAC Commonwealth matchup at 7:00 PM in the PEC.