The Youngstown State volleyball team finished with a 2-1 mark at the Toledo Invitational after dropping a three-set decision on Saturday afternoon to Virginia Tech. The set scores at Savage Hall were 25-21, 25-20, 25-18.
The Penguins had a four-set victory over the host Rockets on Thursday and a five-set win on Friday over Memphis to set up a battle for the tournament championship with Virginia Tech. The Penguins challenged the Hokies and finished second at the Toledo Invitational.
Youngstown State's record after the first two weeks of the season is 3-3, and Virginia Tech remained unbeaten at 6-0.
Abbie Householder led the Penguins offensively with nine kills while adding 10 digs, and Gabriela Machin and Jazmin Vergara both had seven kills. Isidora Sisic tied for match-high honors with 20 digs.
Vergara and Josi Borum were Youngstown State's representatives on the All-Tournament Team. Vergara averaged a team-high 3.82 kills while adding 3.18 digs per set, and Borum averaged 5.73 assists, 2.82 digs and 2.73 kills per set.
Cara Lewis had seven blocks and six kills while hitting .357 for the Hokies.
Virginia Tech scored seven of the first nine points of the match and 16-5 lead in the opening set, but the Penguins rallied and showed they could compete with their ACC opponents. Youngstown State went on an 8-2 run to force a timeout at 18-13, and the score got as close as 19-18 following a block by Dayan Malave and Vergara. Malave was part of three blocks in four rallies to finish that burst that got the Penguins to within one. Virginia Tech scored the next three points to regroup and win 25-21.
Youngstown State maintained the momentum and took a 4-1 lead on Sisic's serve in the second set. The Penguins' final lead came at 9-8 on a kill by Borum, but the Hokies scored the next five points and held the upper hand the rest of the set. The largest lead by Virginia Tech was 19-12, and YSU got to within three three times.
The Penguins switched to a 5-1 offense with Borum and Vergara on the bench in the third set, and Virginia Tech went on an 8-1 run midway through to take a 20-9 lead. Youngstown State trimmed six points off the deficit and got to within 22-17 before the Hokies closed out the tournament with a 25-18 win.
Youngstown State's non-conference schedule will continue with three matches at Florida Atlantic's Owls Paradise Classic next weekend in Boca Raton, Fla.
