Box Score

For the second time already this season, the Albright College volleyball team came up just short in a five-set thriller at home, losing 3-2 to Penn State-Altoona on Thursday.

Despite coming back to win the opening set, then rallying again from a 2-1 deficit in games, the Lions ultimately fell 26-24, 23-25, 13-25, 25-15, 10-15.

Junior Christa Mantz had 11 kills, 32 receptions and 20 digs in the loss. Seniors Casey McFadden (42 digs, 23 receptions) and Alexa Jones (25 digs, 21 receptions) were also effective in the passing game.

Albright led 4-2 in the fifth and final game, following a pair of kills from senior Alyssa Hoogendoorn. Hoogendoorn's service ace then made it 5-2, and the Lions soon led 8-6 on a Marisa Bartone kill.

Altoona rallied however, tying the set 8-8 on an Albright attack error, and talking leads of 10-8 and 13-10 on block solos from Mariah McDowell. A pair of Lion attack errors ended the match.

The Lions had dominated the fourth set, leading 8-4 after a Morgan Heath kill and then 14-7 on a Hoogendoorn spike. Albright would go on an eight-point run with Hoogendoorn serving.

Altoona led 9-4 in game one after an Emily Frye ace, but the Lions came all the way back to tie at 19-19 on Hoogendoorn's block. A pair of kills from Amanda Hammer allowed the visitors to inch ahead, but Albright recorded a point on Brandy Blimline/Bartone's block and then tied it at 24-all following a long rally. Heath would win it with a kill as the Lions took the opening set 26-24.

Albright trailed 23-18 in game two, but scored five straight points to tie, again pulling even on a point from Hoogendoorn. PSU-Altoona scored twice in a row to even the match at 1-1 however.

The visitors dominated the third set, as McDowell tallied nine kills in that game alone.

McDowell finished with 12 kills, 32 digs and 17 receptions. Setter Marina Cotarelo dished out 42 assists, and Robin Tabaka added 10 kills and 18 digs.