Youngstown, Ohio — Abbie Householder registered 13 kills and 12 digs, but the Youngstown State volleyball team dropped its Horizon League opener in straight sets on Friday evening. The set scores from Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly Center were 25-19, 25-22, 25-22.

Householder's 13 kills came in 29 attempts, and the junior outside hitter finished with a .241 attack percentage. She also finished with two of the Penguins' five aces.

Green Bay's Cora Behnke countered with 17 kills in 46 swings, which were both match highs. The Phoenix had a 46-37 advantage in kills and a 7-5 edge in blocks.

Green Bay went on a 6-0 run in the opening set to take a 7-3 lead, and the Phoenix held the upper hand the rest of the set to go up 1-0 in the match.

YSU was the early leader in the second set when Nyia Setla had consecutive aces to put the Penguins up 7-2. Bianca Giglio's ace later gave YSU a 17-10 advantage, and the margin was 22-16 on Householder's sixth kill of the set. Householder rotated to the service line, and Green Bay got a side out on a back-row attack call against the Penguins that made the score 22-17. Libero Abby Gardner then served eight straight points for the Phoenix, and Behnke had kills on the final three points of the rally.

Youngstown State then led 12-8 in the third set when Isabel Schaefbauer and Kelsey Cooper blocked Behnke when Green Bay went on another run behind Gardner's serve. The Phoenix went on a seven-point run to go up 15-12, and YSU was never able to catch up.

The Penguins will try to split the weekend when the host the Phoenix again on Saturday at 2 p.m.