WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Sept. 29) – The Waynesburg University volleyball team returned home Thursday night to face the Washington & Jefferson Presidents. The Yellow Jackets dropped a 3-0 final score in the non-Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) showdown of conference rivals.
 
Waynesburg (2-13) battled with W&J (8-4) throughout the entirety of the match, but could not earn the necessary points down the stretch to record a set victory.
 
The Yellow Jackets lost 25-22 in the first set, but there were definite positives to be had from the opener. Waynesburg cleaned up its hitting errors from previous matches with nine kills compared to only three hitting errors. Waynesburg fell 25-15 in set two, before the Presidents clinched the match with a 25-17 win in set three.
 
Junior Mickayla Baniaga (Kalihi, Hawaii / Kamehameha Schools Kapalama), who is best known as a defensive standout, showcased her wide range of skills as the most impactful offensive contributor at the net for the host squad. Despite standing just 5-1, Baniaga logged a team-high nine kills and added 15 digs, just missing out on a double-double.
 
Junior Trysten Smith (Senecaville, Ohio / Shenandoah) led the Jackets with 10 assists and was joined by freshman Riley Ruffley (Bedford, Pa. / Bedford), who helped out on nine kills.
 
Sophomore Paige Cousley (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Chartiers Valley) tallied 19 digs to pace all Waynesburg defenders.
 
The Yellow Jackets return to the court Saturday afternoon at Allegheny. The match begins at 1 p.m. and is Waynesburg's first official conference match of the 2022 season.