The KSU Tuscarawas volleyball team overcame early trouble at the serving line, as they downed visiting Penn State Shenango in Founders Hall Gym on Saturday afternoon in a four-set win.
Despite nine service errors in the opening set and trailing 15-9, the Golden Eagles rallied behind six straight service points by Kylie Culbertson to force a 15-15 tie. The two teams then dueled to five ties---the last at 22-22---before the navy and gold scored the final three points to claim a 25-22 win.
PSU Shenango took the second set 26-24 which featured eight ties and 5 lead changes. At one point the visitors managed a 22-17 lead which the Eagles flipped into a 24-23 advantage. The Lions roared back with three straight points holding KSU Tusc scoreless for the win.
After Shenango grabbed and early 2-0 lead in the third stanza, the serving of Lizzy Keller and Culbertson powered the Eagles to a 10-3 lead. They increased the lead to eight points at 17-9 and were not challenged the rest of the way as they won 25-18.
In the fourth set, Culbertson did the damage early with eight consecutive service points to give the Eagles a commanding 13-2 lead. Things would get a little dicey though, as the Lions clawed to within two points of the lead on four occasions down the stretch. Shenango trailed just 20-18 after a Golden Eagles service error, but the Eagles held them at bay and would outscore them 5-2 taking the set's final two volleys for a 25-20 victory and a 3-1 match victory.
Culbertson led the Golden Eagles with 16 digs and 10 service aces, while Lindsey Seibert added 11 digs. Taliyah Johnson made 15 kills and Seibert and Alicia Cannon each had 10.
Next up for the Eagles is the USCAA Tip-Off Tournament at Penn State Beaver on Friday, September 2. KSU Tusc will face to host at 2:00 p.m. and then play Christendom College at 4:00 p.m. Depending on how they fare in pool play on the first day, the Golden Eagles, now 2-1, are guaranteed a return to PSU Beaver on Saturday for at least one match and possibly two at a time yet to be determined.
Kylie Culbertson scored 19 points from the service line against PSU Shenango.
(Photo by Katie Ross / Solid Rock Photos)