HUNTINGDON, Pa. – The Lebanon Valley volleyball team battled tough against three-time defending national champion and fifth-ranked Juniata College on Saturday afternoon in a 3-0 defeat to the Eagles at Memorial Gymnasium.
 
LVC jumped out to a lead on Juniata as Jillian Jefferys tied the first set at one, and then Mattea Penner served up an ace. Jefferys added another point before three consecutive attack errors by the Eagles gave the Dutchmen a 6-3 advantage. Juniata responded with the next four points to take the lead. The teams traded points as Penner had a pair of kills off assists by Jasmine Sullivan. The Eagles used a 9-2 run to take a 19-11 advantage. Jefferys stopped the run, and then Teaguen Reynolds had an ace to cut the advantage to six. Sofia Rios, Margaret Cole, and Penner had points over the final nine serves as Juniata won the set 25-16.
 
The Eagles scored the first four points of the second set. Penner stopped the run. Reynolds and Jefferys blocked an attack to cut the deficit to two. Juniata answered with 18 of the next 20 points to take a commanding 22-4 lead. Riley Mack and Jefferys had LVC's two points during the run. The Dutchmen fought valiantly as Penner and Libby Lindau recorded points before Juniata closed out the set at 25-8.
 
Juniata continued their strong play to begin the third set, scoring 10 of the first 12 points. They were able to increase the lead to 17-6 before the Dutchmen used a strong 5-2 rally. Penner had back-to-back points before Jefferys put away an overpass. Jefferys continued her strong play on a block assist with Reynolds and a kill to cut the advantage to 21-13. Juniata scored the next three points to get to match point. LVC scored the next two points on a service error and an ace by Lyla Arfanella before the Eagles were able to score the final point of the match.
 
Inside the Box

• Penner led the Dutchmen with 10 points on eight kills and two service aces.
• Jefferys finished with six kills and four total blocks, including three block assists.
• Rios had six assists and four digs while Sullivan recorded five assists.
• Reynolds had three block assists and one ace.
• Kylie Nagle led the team in digs with five.

Up Next
The Dutchmen will look to clinch a spot in the MAC Freedom Championships on Tuesday evening, Oct. 28, in the team's final road game of the regular season. LVC will head to Doylestown to face Delaware Valley University for a 7 p.m. start at James Work Gymnasium.

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