BEAVER FALLS, Pa. (October 9) – The Waynesburg University volleyball team was defeated in three sets by Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) foe Geneva on Wednesday night. The Golden Tornados took the win with set scores of 25-11, 27-25 and 25-19.
Geneva rises to 7-11 overall with a 1-1 conference record while Waynesburg falls to 4-11 overall and 0-3 in league play.
Geneva took the lead early in the first set but the Jackets battled back to tie the set at seven apiece with
Madi Dayton (Ridgeley, W. Va. / Calvary Christian) getting four kills in the span. The Golden Tornados took back the lead and never looked back going on runs of 5-0, 5-2 and 8-2 to capture the first set.
Opening the second set both teams were battling for position with Geneva taking a 8-7 lead after the first 15 points. Following a 4-0 Golden Tornado run the Jackets responded with a 10-3 run to take the lead at 17-15. Geneva answered with a run of 9-3 to take the set to match point yet Waynesburg battled back taking four straight points to tie the match at 24. Waynesburg faced two more match points until Geneva won the second set 27-25
The Golden Tornados used an 8-3 run to open the third set before the Jackets responded with a 5-1 spurt to bring the set within one (9-8). Waynesburg fought to keep the set close throughout and was down by two after a kill from Senior
Emma Hyatt (Carmichaels, Pa. / Carmichaels Area) made the score 21-19. Geneva responded with a 4-0 string to close the set and the game at 25-19.
Dayton led the Jacket attack with eight kills while Hyatt and sophomore
Krista Wilson (Greensboro, Pa. / Mapletown) followed with three. Junior
Riley Ruffley (Bedford, Pa. / Bedford) led the team in assists with nine while senior
Paige Cousley (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Chartiers Valley) assisted with five.
Defensively Waynesburg was led by Ruffley who had 11 digs while senior
Jordan Stein (Manor, Pa. / Norwin) was close behind with 10. Hyatt and Ruffley led the team in blocks with each totaling three.
The Jackets are back at home and look to defend a undefeated home record against PAC opponent Franciscan on Saturday in a Waynesburg University 175
th Anniversary celebration game. The first 100 fans at the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse will receive commemorative noisemakers.