Buffalo, NY - In their 2019 season opener, the D'Youville Women's Volleyball team was unable to get a win under their belt.  The team fell to Penn St.-Behrend in three games; 25-23, 25-12 and 25-14.

D'Youville almost got the first game of the match from the Lions, going back and forth for much of the game.  The team got behind a few points multiple times but dug their way out each time.  The second and third games were all Penn St.- Behrend.  The teams kept it close for a few points in the beginning, but the Lions took over quick and held the lead.    

The team showed promise from their 4-22 record last year.  The women grabbed a total of 15 kills, led by freshmen Julia Peinkofer (Elma, NY/ Iroquois) and Sarah Wittek (Elma, NY/ Iroquois), who both had three each.  Wittek also had the team's lone two blocks of the night.  Not to be outdone by the newcomers, senior Samantha Murray (Hamburg, NY/ Frontier) and sophomores Mikaela Milleville (Niagara Falls, NY/ Niagara-Wheatfield) and Carly Milleville (Niagara Falls, NY/ Niagara-Wheatfield) each added three during the match.  

Throughout the game, the Spartans had five service aces through the match; three from sophomore Angela Filkov (North Collins, NY/ North Collins) and two from junior Talia Wright (Derby, NY/ Lake Shore).  Sophomore Desiree Walters (Oswego, IL/ Oswego) also tallied up ten digs, while McKenna Cartonia (Lancaster, NY/ Lancaster) put up six assists.  

The Spartans will be back at the College Center tomorrow morning to host the Houghton Highlanders at 11 am. The team will then head to Clarkson University next weekend to compete in the school's two-day tournament where they face Brockport and St. Lawrence on Friday and Wheaton (Mass.) and Clarkson on Saturday.