Week 9 Penn State Hazleton Womens Volleyball Recap

Penn State Hazleton's playoff showdown with Penn State Mont Alto was an epic five-set battle, with Hazleton narrowly falling 2-3 (28–26, 25–22, 26–28, 20–25, 12–15). The contest featured elite levels of fight and execution, pushing both teams to their limits in front of a raucous home crowd. Hazleton racked up 63 kills on .158 hitting, highlighted by stellar performances from Sydney Mack (23 kills, .300, 5 aces, 13 digs), Claire Riera-Gomez (22 kills, 5 aces, 9 digs), and Kaytlin Kelley (14 kills, .346, 3 aces, 4 digs). Setter Sophia Del Vacchio was outstanding, piling up 57 assists, 4 aces, and a team-high 19 digs. In total, Hazleton notched 61 assists, 18 aces, 79 digs, and 12 blocks, repeatedly responding to Mont Alto rallies and forcing extra points in three sets.

'
The match marked one of Hazleton's grittiest and most balanced efforts of the year—each starter contributed on both sides of the ball, with Mirabella Medina (10 digs, 2 aces), Olivia Bilbow (17 digs), and Laura Ballek (2 kills, 2 digs) giving the back row depth and resilience. Though the match ultimately slipped away, Hazleton's refusal to break, their serving (18 aces), tough defense, and explosive offense created a true playoff classic. The contest stands as a testament to Hazleton's spirit, their senior leadership, and the high-caliber volleyball that defines their 2025 season.