By Cameron Niemi
Youngstown State University’s volleyball team hosted two of the top teams in the Horizon League. On Sept. 27, the University of Wisconsin Green-Bay came to town and the Penguins were defeated 3-0.
The team falls to 1-5 in the Horizon League but has 12 conference games to bounce back before tournament time.
Sophomore Abbie Householder led the team with 10 kills and had two blocks. Fifth-year senior Josi Borum had 11 assists, four kills and led the team in aces with two.
After going down 2-0, the lady ‘Guins attempted a comeback in the third set. The team found itself down 24-16 and rallied back with five-straight points. The team eventually lost the final set, 25-21.
On Oct. 28, the Penguins hosted the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. YSU lost with a final score of 3-1.
Junior Jazmin Vergara led the team with 15 kills and Householder had 12. Borum had 22 assists and senior Isabel Schaefbauer added 20.
The Panthers jumped out to an early 2-0 set lead. In the third set, the Penguins would fight back and secure a 25-21 win to force a fourth set.
In the fourth set, Milwaukee took a 22-12 lead. Youngstown responded with its own run and made it 23-20. The Panthers won the next two points and secured the win over the Penguins.
Head coach Aline Scott spoke on the four-straight losses, what the team learned and how it can improve.
“We played against four good opponents. We didn’t perform the way we expected in terms of skill execution and that’s what we have been trying to polish this week,” Scott said. “We really have to be able to perform the skill at a higher level.”
Despite losing four consecutive games, the lady ‘Guins still have plenty of games remaining in the season.
Freshman Jocelyn Jourdan spoke highly about her teammates ability to bounce back from these past few games with the conference still wide open.
“No one is gonna give up,” Jourdan said. “We can bounce back and as long as we show up in games how we practice. We will be fine.”
Youngstown State will have four straight away games. The team will first travel to Indiana for two separate games at 6 p.m. Oct. 6, to play the University of Purdue Fort Wayne, then at 6 p.m. on Oct. 7, against Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.
For more information on the games, visit ysusports.com or watch the game on ESPN+.