WAYNESBURG, Pa. (October 12) – The Waynesburg University volleyball team was defeated in four sets by Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) foe Franciscan on Saturday afternoon. The Barons won the game with a score line of 25-19, 19-25, 25-23 and 25-15.
 
Franciscan rises to 10-6 overall and 1-2 in conference action while Waynesburg falls to 4-12 overall and 0-4 in PAC play.
 
After an early Waynesburg lead Franciscan responded by taking the lead with the help of a 5-1 run which gave the Barons a 9-4 lead. After some back-and-forth play the Barons surged forward with an 13-7 spurt which took them to set point at 24-14. The Jackets survived six set points as they attempted a late comeback with a 5-0 run but Franciscan regrouped with a timeout and ended the set at a score of 25-19.
 
Waynesburg opened the second set with three kills from Madi Dayton (Ridgeley, W. Va. / Calvary Christian) as the Jackets built a nine-point lead at 15-6. The Barons fought to get back in the game with a 7-2 run to bring the set within four (17-13) but after trading points, Waynesburg put the set away following a 5-2 push to win the set at 25-19.
 
Both teams went into the third set ready as they positioned for a lead until a 5-2 run gave Franciscan a three-point lead in the first 15 points at 9-6. The Jackets answered with a 4-0 run to take the lead at 10-9 then Franciscan answered with their own 4-0 run to take the lead back and slowly push into winning position as they reached set point with a score of 24-20. Waynesburg survived through three more set points but the Barons went on to win the set at 25-23.
 
Opening the fourth set neither team gave an inch as the game was tired at six then a 3-0 spurt pushed Franciscan back up front with a 9-6 score. The Jackets brought the game within one thanks to a 4-2 run but the Barons kept the lead throughout the rest of the set. Franciscan took the final set and the game following a late 6-1 push with a score of 25-15.
 
Sophomore Kristina Zadrozny (McDonald, Pa. / West Allegheny) led the Waynesburg attack matching her season best of 13 kills for the third time this season. Following Zadrozny was fellow sophomore Krista Wilson (Greensboro, Pa. / Mapletown) who totaled eight kills while seniors Emma Hyatt (Carmichaels, Pa. / Carmichaels Area) and Dayton had seven respectively.
 
Junior Riley Ruffley (Bedford, Pa. / Bedford) led the game in assists with 27 to match her season best while racking up 10 digs to pick up ser second double-double on the season. Senior Paige Cousley (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Chartiers Valley) followed with 10 assists.
 
Defensively for the Jackets Senior Jordan Stein (Manor, Pa. / Norwin) had 31 digs on the day which marks her seventh time this season totaling 25 digs or more. Junior Macee Cree (Garards Fort, Pa. / Mapletown) followed with 11 digs while Ruffley had 10, junior Paige Mortimore (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Brentwood) totaled a season best with nine. Dayton, Hyatt and Zadrozney each had two total blocks.
 
Waynesburg is back in action with a non-conference home match up against Hiram on Tuesday.