(CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.) – Wilson defeated Penn State Mont Alto in a nail-biting four-set showdown in what was the final meeting between the two schools. The Phoenix dominated the opening set before the final three all went 25-23. In the process, the Phoenix set a program record for most kills in a single match.

The Basics
Scores: Wilson 3, Penn State Mont Alto 1 (25-4, 25-23, 23-25, 25-23)
Venue: Gannett Memorial Field House
Records: Wilson 1-12, 0-1 United East; Penn State Mont Alto 9-6, 9-4 PSUAC
How It Happened

• The Phoenix put on a clinic in the opening set as they had a pair of 7-0 runs and closed out the frame with an 8-0 run. Hannah Pollard (FY, Wilmington, N.C. / Wilmington Christian) set the tone with an early kill and a block paired with Alison Daniels (Jr., Lititz, Pa. / Warwick) who followed up with a kill of her own. After the Lions scored the next point to make it 3-2, Wilson went off to the races with its first 7-0 run fueled by three Michaela Windisch (Sr., Westminster, Md. / Catoctin) aces. Six of the seven points in the following run were scored from the Phoenix attack that comprised of four Abby Moreland (Sr., Sabillasville, Md. /Catoctin) kills and two from Riley Cramer (FY, Chambersburg, Pa. / Chambersburg). Jayda Lichty (FY, Hanover, Pa. / Southwestern) put the finishing touches on the first with three kills during the 8-0 rally.
• While it looked like Wilson would enforce more dominance at the start of the second with a 7-3 start, Mont Alto had other ideas and went on a 7-0 run of its own to take the lead. The Lions were up as late as 19-17 before Wilson tied it on a pair of Mont Alto miscues. The Phoenix tied the set on a Lichty kill and went ahead on the following play as Pollard and Sydney Tracey (FY, York, Pa. / Dallastown / Penn State Mont Alto) teamed up for a block to make it 21-20. Pollard added to kills shortly after to make the score 24-22 and then 25-23 for a 2-0 Wilson lead.
• The third played similar to the second in that Wilson rallied later in the game, but this time the Lions held off the comeback attempt. The visitors used a 5-0 run to take a 15-11 lead. Wilson went on a 5-1 run later to get back in front thanks to three Moreland kills. It resulted in a 21-20 lead, but Mont Alto was able to score five of the next seven to stay alive.
• Mont Alto threatened to force a fifth after a 5-0 run put the Lions in front 18-15. The Lions led by as many as four at 21-17 before Wilson caught fire and closed out the contest. Daniels sparked the final run with a kill and was followed by Ashlynn Babbitt (So., Edenton, N.C. / John A. Holmes) and Cramer alternating the next four kills to give Wilson a 22-21 lead. Mont Alto's Kylee Partilla scored the next to make it 22-al, but Wilson wasn't finished and had another Cramer kill immediately followed by one from Lichty. Lichty errored on the next attempt, but made up for it by scoring the kill on the next play to give Wilson the match win.

Inside The Numbers

• The 25-4 set win in the first matched Wilson's program record of largest margin of victory in a set which came against Trinity Washington in the third set of a sweep at Hollins on September 19, 2019.
• The Phoenix featured a highly-balanced attack with three players in double-figures with another pair with at least eight kills. Lichty led the group with 16 kills while Moreland was once shy of her at 15. Both had double-doubles as Moreland picked up 20 digs while Lichty added 18.
• On the receiving end, Daniels led all players with 32 digs. The mark is tied for 20th nationally for most digs in a four-set match.
• Addie Hebert (Sr., Gettysburg, Pa. / Gettysburg) was also strong on the back line with 22 digs for a new season-best. She's reached double figures in digs in all but two matches and has had at least nine in every contest this year.
• Tracey had an incredible night as she helped Head Coach Randy Hood defeat their former team. She guided the offense with 53 assists, but also helped out defensively with 16 digs.
• Up front, the net belonged to Pollard who made six blocks, two of which were solo. She put down 10 kills as well.
• Wilson's 64 kills set a new program record, besting the 62 scored in five-set victory over Penn State Brandywine on October 15, 2024. The mark is one shy of being tied for 10th for the most in a four-set match by any team in Division III this season.

Up Next
The Phoenix head to La Plume to battle Keystone in United East action. It will be part of a tri-match as well with Marywood squaring off with the Phoenix following the match against the Giants. First serve is set for 11 a.m. on Saturday.