WAYNESBURG, PA. (Oct. 2) – The Waynesburg University women's volleyball team welcomed the Fransican Barons to the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse Thursday evening for a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) match. Fransican took a four-set victory by the scores of 20-25, 25-16, 25-16 and 25-16.
 
The Yellow Jackets (2-14, 0-4) started the match on a high note by building an early 11-5 advantage, thanks in large part to the efforts of graduate student Larissa Howe (Tomball, Texas / Tomball) and junior Kristina Zadrozny (McDonald, Pa./ West Allegheny). Waynesburg went on to win the first set 25-20.
 
The second set got off to a slower start for the host team, which fell behind the Barons (6-7, 2-3) 8-3. The Yellow Jackets cut the deficit to 12-9, before eventually ceding the set to the visitors.
 
Franciscan jumped out a quick 4-0 lead in set three. However, Waynesburg answered with a 7-2 scoring run to go-ahead 7-6. The Barons went on a run of their own to not only regain the lead, but ride it to the set victory.
 
Franciscan carried the momentum in the fourth set to seal up its most recent PAC win.
 
Zadrozny and Howe finished with a combined 24 kills, including a team-high 13 for the junior. Junior Ray Baniaga (Honolulu, Hawaii / Sacred Hearts helped out the offense with a match-best 19 assists. Baniaga nearly logged a double-double thanks to her nine digs.
 
Speaking of defense, freshman Mallory Boyd (West Jefferson, Ohio / West Jefferson) paced the Jackets with 10 digs, while junior Audrey Work (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Baldwin) led the charge at the net with a contest-best five blocks.
 
Senior Emily Stutzman (Chambersburg, Pa. / Chambersburg) continued a strong season behind the service line with a match-high three aces.
 
The Yellow Jackets return to the court on Saturday with a PAC match at Hiram. Start time is scheduled for 1 p.m.