Volleyball goes winless on first RSC weekend

Written By Dara Collins, Co-Sports Editor

The volleyball team hit the road for a final pre-conference match-up and opened conference play last week.

As of Sept. 13, two-time River States Conference (RSC) Setter of the Week Julia Menosky leads the RSC in total assists with 540, averaging 10.6 assists per set. Junior Ashley Taylor, who was also honored twice as Attacker of the Week, leads the RSC in kills with 210, averaging 3.8 kills per set.

“I know as captain, I have the team and coaches counting on me to be the leader, so I think me working hard and earning these things already, I want to show them that they can always count on me as a leader on and off the court,” Taylor said.

Washington and Jefferson College hosted the non-conference match-up last Wednesday between the Pioneers and the Presidents.

Point Park stole the first set 25-17 and carried momentum to the second set to dominate 25-14. The Pioneers set their sights on a sweep before the Presidents came back to win set three 25-18. The Presidents’ victory was short lived as Point Park took set four 25-23.

“I think we just bounced back really well after getting beat in the third one and realizing we needed to get our stuff together and win, finish it,” junior Meg Reineke said.

The big hitters included Reineke with 14 kills and junior Erica Gumz trailed close behind with 13. Juniors Savannah Dishman, Taylor and freshman Jazlyn Rozier also chipped in nine kills each. Libero Morgan Dangelo led the defense with a team-high of 35 digs, and Reineke picked up 19 of her own.

Point Park traveled to Indiana University East for its first RSC East Division match-up of the season last Friday.

The Pioneers closed out a close first set 26-24 before the Red Wolves took control of sets two and three, winning 25-19 and 25-23. Point Park failed to make a comeback and dropped set four 20-25.

Menosky dished out 41 assists to her attackers. Point Park totaled 52 kills to IU East’s 53. Taylor controlled the offense with 15 kills and helped defense with seven digs. Reineke recorded a team-high 23 digs followed by Menosky with 19.

RSC West Division member and preseason favorite Indiana University Kokomo hosted the second conference match-up of the weekend. The Cougars swept the Pioneers 25-16, 25-17 and 25-18.

“We are still trying to mesh with one another, so I believe there are just a lot of things clashing together at the moment,” Taylor said.

Dishman, Gumz and Reineke contributed seven kills each. Rozier defended the net with the lone solo block of the match. The team collected a total of 41 digs.

Point Park suffered only one conference loss last season to the University of Rio Grande.

“We will work on taking accountability amongst each other so we have more chemistry as a team,” Rozier said.

The Pioneers now hold an overall record of 9-8 and an 0-2 RSC record. Fans can catch the team at their next home game against Salem International University on Sept. 22 in the Student Center Gym.