Tartans Finish Home Weekend With Two Wins

(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) – The Carnegie Mellon University volleyball team defeated John Carroll University 3-1 and came from behind to defeat Westminster College 3-2 at home on Saturday, September 17. The Tartans are now 8-5 on the year.

The Tartans opened the day against John Carroll with an opening game loss 25-22 but rallied for three wins 25-14, 25-17, and 25-21. The team totalled 55 kills for the match with 11 in the first set, 14 in the second, and 15 apiece in the third and fourth.

Leading the offense was sophomore Rachel Miller (Ann Arbor, Mich./Ann Arbor Huron) with 17 kills and a .250 hitting percentage. Sophomore Senna Parsa (Bellevue, Wash./Newport) followed with 15 kills as freshman Ali Celentano (Mission Viejo, Calif./JSerra Catholic) collected nine.

Sophomore Emily Wright (Fairfax, Va./Chantilly) constructed the offense with 38 assists while also picking up 16 digs defensively. Senior Emily Baddock (Houston, Texas/Dulles) led the defense with 18 digs as sophomore Ali Nichols (Portland, Ore./Jesuit) tallied 15. Parsa and sophomore Olivia Mora (San Antonio, Texas/Saint Mary's Hall) each collected two block assists at the net.

Against the Titans, Carnegie Mellon dropped the first two games 25-17 and 25-21 before rallying for 25-17, 25-21, and 15-11 victories.

Celentano led with 17 kills and a hitting percentage of over .350 while Parsa tallied 13 kills and Miller 11. Wright finished the five-game match with 30 assists.

Baddock picked up 19 digs while Nichols and senior Kristen Castellano (New Cannan, Conn./Taft) both tallied 10. Senior Maddie Rosnick (Fallsington, Pa./Pennsbury) was big at the net collecting five block assists as Celentano assisted on three blocks.

The Tartans remain at home next weekend hosting an invitational on Friday and Saturday with their own matches beginning at 6:00 p.m. Friday.