Match 1: Penn State New Kensington 3, Penn State Shenango 0
In the opening match of the Christendom Tri-Match, Penn State Shenango put up a strong fight but fell in three sets to Penn State New Kensington (25-20, 25-20, 25-21).

Cyra Cross led the charge for Shenango, recording 9 kills on 39 attempts for a .179 hitting percentage, adding 3 digs and a service ace. Sydney Ward and Kylee Loreno contributed 4 kills each, while Loreno also added 4 digs and 2 service errors. Setter Carla Ramirez Ortiz distributed 10 assists and notched one service ace.

Defensively, Libero Gabby Villanueva Santos paced the team with 12 digs, while Maggie Briggs chipped in with 3 blocks and 3 kills. Despite their efforts, Shenango's .091 hitting percentage and struggles with unforced errors allowed New Kensington to control the tempo throughout the match.

Match 2: Penn State Shenango 2, Christendom 3

Penn State Shenango fought hard but came up just short in a five-set match against Christendom, losing 25-19, 25-18, 25-27, 12-25, 6-15. Despite winning the first two sets, Shenango was unable to maintain their momentum, with Christendom staging a comeback to win the final three sets.

Offensively, Shenango struggled with efficiency, posting a .049 hitting percentage as a team. Kylee Loreno led the charge with 13 kills, but also tallied 15 errors on 58 attempts, resulting in a -.034 hitting percentage. Cyra Cross added 12 kills, though her eight errors tempered her efforts. Maggie Briggs contributed eight kills, while Jori Malone was efficient with six kills and a .188 hitting percentage. Setter Carla Ramirez Ortiz kept the offense moving with 16 assists, while also making a significant impact from the service line with a team-high six aces. Ramirez Ortiz was instrumental in keeping Shenango competitive throughout the match.

Defensively, Shenango put up a solid effort, totaling 104 digs. Cross was a standout with 20 digs, showcasing her all-around game, while Loreno and Emma Murdock contributed 15 and 14 digs, respectively. At the net, Maggie Briggs and Sydney Ward combined for six blocks, as the team registered eight total block assists.

Though Shenango had flashes of brilliance, particularly in the first two sets, Christendom's resilience in the final three proved too much. Shenango will look to regroup and build on their strong start as they prepare for their next match at home against Butler County Community College on Tuesday, September 10th.  First serve is slated for 6 PM.