MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Westminster College volleyball team split its two matches in day one of the Northwest PA Challenge at Allegheny College Friday night.
 
The Titans lost, 3-0, to the University of Mount Union (5-0), however regrouped and swept host Allegheny (3-4), 3-0, in game two.
 
In game one against Mount Union, Westminster (5-1) was up 22-20 after junior Reilly DeGeorge (Ashtabula, OH / Saint John) registered a kill off a pass from first-year Samantha Kelly (Irwin, PA / Penn-Trafford). The Purple Raiders went on a 4-0 run to take a 24-22 lead. DeGeorge answered with another kill (24-23), but Mount Union sealed the set one victory on the next serve. After trailing early in the second set (3-2), Mount Union never trailed again and won 25-16. The Purple Raiders, who were up for most of the third set, held a 23-20 lead. The Titans, however, tied the game at 23 after a 3-0 run capped off with a kill by first-year Maya Steward (Los Angeles, CA / William Howard Taft); senior Shanna Daniels (Hermitage, PA / Billy C. Ryan) earned the assist. Westminster had set point, its first lead of the set at 24-23, after an attack error by Mount Union. The Titans had set point with a 26-25 lead after a block assist by first-year Becky Adelman (Mogadore, OH / Waterloo) and sophomore Josie Toporcer (Warren, OH / Lordstown). The Purple Raiders, however, won the set and the match following three-straight points. Senior Delaney Saxton (Cortland, OH / Brookfield) and DeGeorge each had a team-high nine kills. Steward tallied a match-high three aces. Titan senior Rachel Moore (Greensburg, PA / Greensburg Central Catholic) registered a match-best 23 digs, while DeGeorge (17), Steward (10), and Daniels (10) also had double-digit digs apiece. Kelly dished out a team-best 17 assists, while Daniels earned 15. Adelman added a team-best three blocks.
 
Against the Gators, the Titans won set one convincingly, 25-8, guided by a .312 hitting percentage. In set two, Westminster was down 15-14, however took a 17-15 lead and did not look back for a 25-19 set two victory. The Titans, jumped out to a 12-4 lead in the final set in which they never trailed and won 25-15. Steward had a match-high 11 kills, followed by Saxton with nine. Steward, DeGeorge, and Moore each had a match-best two service aces. Daniels earned a match-high 15 assists, while Kelly had 13. Three Titans had double-digit digs, led by DeGeorge with 18. Moore and Steward recorded 17 and 13 digs, respectively. Junior Haley Farmerie (Manor, PA / Greensburg Central Catholic) added a match-high three blocks.
 
The Titans conclude the Northwest PA Challenge Saturday, September 8 with two matches at Penn State Behrend. Westminster will play Penn State at 11 a.m., followed by a 1:15 p.m. match against D'Youville College.