Cedarville Box / Michigan Tech Box (to come)

RENSSELAER, IN – IUP opened its 2011 volleyball season as the Crimson Hawks split its matches on the first day of the Puma Invitational at St. Joseph's College, rallying to defeat Michigan Tech 3-1 after an earlier 3-1 loss to Cedarville.

After falling 25-13 in the first set to Tech, the Crimson Hawks came right back, winning the next three sets by scores of 25-20, 25-22 and 26-24.

In the opening match, the Yellow Jackets jumped out to the 1-0 lead by taking the first set 26-24, before going up by two with a 25-19 win. IUP came back for a convincing 25-14 third set win, but couldn't continue the comeback as Cedarville took set four 25-18.

Lauren Hester (State College, Pa. /State College) led the way on the offensive end with nine kills on 26 total attacks. Danielle Ostendorf (Rockford, IL/Boylan Catholic) added seven kills on 18 attacks while Carissa Miara (Pittsburgh/West Allegheny) had 25 of the Crimson Hawks 27 total assists.

Defensively, Emily Vaughn (Shippensburg/Shippensburg) and Brooke Bailey (Clarion, Pa. /Clarion) tallied 14 digs apiece and Beth Sova had four block assists, as Ostendorf, Miara, and Morgan Cerveny (Richfield, OH/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy) each added three block assists apiece.

The action at the Puma Invitational continues on Saturday for IUP, as the Crimson Hawks take on the host St. Joseph's along with Franklin Pierce.