The Youngstown State volleyball team earned a split in its two matches on Friday at the DoubleTree by Hilton YSU Invitational, presented by Mercy Health. The Penguins opened the day - and the 2023 season - with a 3-2 victory over Canisius, and they ended it with a 3-1 loss to Belmont.

Senior Elise Moeller clobbered a career-high 21 kills and recorded a double-double with 12 digs to lead YSU to its season-opening 3-2 victory over the Golden Griffins. The set scores from Beeghly Center were 23-25, 25-18, 25-21, 21-25, 15-8. In YSU's second match of the day, Jazmin Vergara came off the bench to lead the Guins with nine kills and hit .333.

Saint Francis (Pa.) is also playing at the tournament, and the Penguins will take on the Red Flash on Saturday in the final match of the weekend. All four teams went 1-1 on a long Friday on Rosselli Court.

In addition to Moeller's career day against the Golden Griffins, three other Penguins posted double-doubles. Abbie Householder finished with 15 kills and 20 digs while setters Josi Borum and Isabel Schaefbauer each had double-doubles with 32 digs and 10 assists and 24 assists and 11 digs, respectively.

Kiyah Franklin also tallied double digits in kills with 13 while adding five blocks, and Julia Sell led the team with eight total blocks.

The Penguins scored 84.5 total points compared to 65 for the Golden Griffins, posted 67 kills to 53, and recorded 12.5 total blocks (two block solos and 21 block assists).

Against Belmont, YSU won the opening set 25-16, but the Bruins claimed the final three 25-21, 25-17, 25-13.

Vergara's nine kills came in three sets, and Dayan Malave, Franklin and Borum each had seven kills. Isidora Sisic had 16 digs, which tied for the most in the match.

Belmont had 17 more kills than the Penguins on 30 more attempts.

Youngstown State will try to finish the weekend with a winning record as it takes on the Red Flash at 2 p.m. on Saturday.