Ambrosini sets All-Time Kills Record in Weekend Sweep

October 9, 2011

HAZLETON/SCRANTON, Pa. - The no. 5 Penn State Fayette women's volleyball dominated their opponents over the weekend, winning 12 of 13 sets in route to sweeping a pair of weekend doubleheaders, including two wins over top-10 opponents. The Roaring Lions (21-3, 13-0 PSUAC) increased their season winning streak to 14, while extending their conference winning streak to 25 matches dating back to last season.

Fayette began the weekend with a 3-1 (25-21, 22-25, 27-25, 25-15) win over no. 8 Penn College, a match-up of undefeated conference teams, before sweeping host Penn State Hazleton, 3-0 (25-16, 25-9, 25-15) on Saturday. The Roaring Lions traveled to Penn State Scranton on Sunday, taking down the hosts 3-0 (25-10, 25-8, 25-11) before a showdown with no. 3 Penn State Wilkes-Barre. Fayette dominated the Lady Lions, winning 3-0 (25-10, 25-17, 25-22) to take control of the conference regular season lead. With the weekend sweep, the Roaring Lions hold a one-game conference lead over Penn College, while extending their lead to two over Wilkes-Barre.

Junior Leah Ambrosini (Connellsville, Pa.) led Fayette with 18 kills against Penn College, in the process setting the program's all-time kills record, which previously stood at 790. Freshman Janelle Cooper (Mount Braddock, Pa.) added eight kills for the Roaring Lions, as senior Katie Sleasman (Connellsville, Pa.) dished out a season-high 30 assists. Fayette's defense was also strong, as sophomore Victoria Kearns (Uniontown, Pa.) had 12 digs and sophomore Marney Hillen (Connellsville, Pa.) added 10. At the net, freshman Katlyn Salisbury (Madison, Pa.) had six blocks, while sophomore Caitlin Fidel (Perryopolis, Pa.) added five against the Wildcats.

Ambrosini once again paved the way against Hazleton, notching seven kills. Freshmen Marisa Wallace (Smithfield, Pa.) and Emily Caldwell (Belle Vernon, Pa.) added five kills each for the Roaring Lions, while Caldwell led with a career-high 10 digs. Freshman Samantha Helmantoler (Monongahela, Pa.) and sophomore Alaina Weiss (Monongahela, Pa.) each had three blocks against the Lady Lions. Sleasman added nine assists, while freshman Emily Konter (Brownsville, Pa.) led with 10 assists against Hazleton.

On Sunday, Ambrosini led the Roaring Lions' attack again, notching six kills against Scranton. Sleasman and Konter would add 18 and eight assists, respectively, in a route of the quad match host.

In a top-5 showdown with Wilkes-Barre, Fayette dominated the first set and cruised to a 2-0 lead before a three-point win in the third set. Sleasman notched 21 more assists, bringing her weekend total to 78. Ambrosini led Fayette with 10 kills, while Helmantoler added a career-high nine kills. Salisbury once again dominated at the net with seven blocks while Kearns provided four digs to lead the Roaring Lions.

Fayette returns to action on Tuesday, Oct. 11 as they travel to Point Park for a 7:00 p.m. match. The Roaring Lions look to avenge their most recent defeat, a 3-0 loss to the Pioneers on Sept. 12 at Penn State Fayette. Only three conference matches remain, as the Roaring Lions host Penn State DuBois on Thursday, Oct. 13 before traveling to Penn State Beaver and Penn State New Kensington Oct. 15 and Oct. 16, respectively. The Roaring Lions will host a first-round playoff match on Tuesday, Oct. 18, if necessary, and can clinch the no. 1 seed in the conference playoffs with any combination of two wins in their final three conference matches.