Women's Volleyball | 10/6/2010 9:43:27 PM

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Host Pitt-Johnstown snapped a 1-all tie with back-to-back wins here Wednesday night as the Mountain Cat volleyball team handed West Liberty a 3-1 defeat in West Virginia Conference action at the UPJ Sports Center.

Pitt-Johnstown (6-8, 4-4) grabbed an early lead with a 25-16 win in the opening game but the Hilltoppers (8-11, 2-5) bounced back to take Game Two by a 25-22 count. The Mountain Cats then closed out the match by winning the final two games, 25-19 and 25-18.

Rachel Ziegler paced Coach Brooke Turner's visitors with a match-high 13 kills while Mekenzie Gray and Emily Mellie added 9 kills each. Abby McCreery and Brittany Albanese were each charted with 20 assists while Jennifer Torrence led all players with 34 assists.

The Hilltoppers will be idle this weekend but will return to action at home Tuesday night with a WVIAC match against Fairmont State. The first game is set for a 7 p.m. start at the ASRC. The match will be part of the Susan G. Komen Dig for the Cure event in the ongoing battle against breast cancer.

VOLLEYBALL

Pitt-Johnstown 3, West Liberty 1

(25-16, 22-25, 25-19, 25-18)

WEST LIBERTY (8-11, 2-5)

    Mekenzie Gray 9-0-0; Melissa Pierzchala 5-1-0; Rachel Ziegler 13-0-0; Emily Mellie 9-0-2.0; Anne Edwards 5-0-2.5; Sarah Mathias 3-0-3.5; Abby McCreery 0-1-0. Totals 44-2-8.0.

    Assists – Abby McCreery 20; Brittany Albanese 20.

    Digs – Jennifer Torrence 34; Melissa Pierzchala 13.

PITT-JOHNSTOWN (6-8, 4-4)

    Taylor King 1-2-0; Taylor Hrescak 12-0-4.0; Ashley Dirado 10-0-4.5; Lindsay Roush 10-0-1.5; Beth Kendera 5-0-4.0; Kayla Petrilla 0-1-0; Jessica Heidenthal 9-0-2.0; Kelsey Kohler 1-0-0; Kayla Brandle 6-0-2.0. Totals 54-3-18.0.

    Assists – Kayla Petrilla 25; Taylor King 24.

    Digs – Taylor Hrescak 18; Kelsey Kohler 14.