USCAA National Championship: Penn State Mont Alto 3, Kent State Tuscarawas 1 (25-27, 25-21, 25-17, 27-25)

Penn State Mont Alto volleyball overcame a early first set loss to defeat Kent State Tuscarawas three sets to one to win the 2023 USCAA National Championship. Saturday's victory marked the second consecutive title victory and three straight championship game appearances.

Penn State Mont Alto head volleyball coach Randy Hood stood in the Penn State Fayette gymnasium on Saturday afternoon and was nearly speechless. His squad once again faced adversity, an early set loss, and rebounded and cruised to another championship. Adversity is no stranger to this group of Mont Alto volleyball players and it showed that they could battle through anything. 

In the PSUAC semifinals, the team was down two sets to one and won in five against Penn State Hazleton. The next night in the conference championship, they once again overcame a two sets to one deficit and defeated Penn State York to win their second conference title in as many years. In the opening round of pool play, the Nittany Lions were down two sets to none against Kent State Tuscarawas and ended up winning in five. "This team doesn't quit", said Hood following Saturday's match. 

Mont Alto's players, coaches, parents and friends flooded the gymnasium following the match, posing for numerous photos to create countless memories. For a weekend that almost started out poorly, it accounted for the second national title in a row for the program.

Kent State Tuscarawas took set one 27-25, with the score tied 21-21 they took three straight to push the lead to 24-21. Mont Alto battled back to tie the match at 24-24 before Kent State took three of the next four.

In the second set, Mont Alto trailed 21-20 before reeling off five points in a row to take set two 25-21. Gabby Baughman had two services aces and Abigail Wagner had a key kill to even the contest.

In the third set, Mont Alto led by as much as nine points at 20-11 before moving on to a 25-17 set three win. Mont Alto would also lead in the fourth set with a 16-12 advantage. Kent State Tuscarawas took the next seven points and led 19-16. 

Kent State Tuscarawas held set point in the fourth set with a 24-20 lead. A kill by Abigail Wagner and two attack errors from Kent State had Mont Alto within one point with the score 24-23.

With the score notted at 25-25, Abigail Wagner recorded a kill to set up Mont Alto with match point. On the next point, Taliyah Johnson had an attack error which went long out of bounds and it was time to celebrate as Mont Alto took the fourth set 27-25.

Mont Alto Leaders

Leslie Huckle 20 kills,

Elizabeth Trella 11 kills

Gracie Vaughn 11 kills

Kylie Denlinger 46 assists, 17 digs

Brooke Denlinger 21 digs

Kent State Tuscarawas Leaders

Taliyah Johnson 18 kills

Makenzie Ailes 12 kills, 20 digs

Cayla Shrimplin 27 digs