Mallory Pinske posted a team-high 12 kills and added two blocks as the Mountain Cats triumphed over West Liberty in four sets on Saturday evening to finish up a 3-1 outing at the Wheeling/West Liberty (WV) Tournament.

Mountain Cat defensive specialist Gabi DeRenzo was selected to the all-tournament team.

After dropping the opener against Wheeling (WV), Pitt-Johnstown rattled off three straight wins to improve its record to 9-2 ahead of the start of conference play.

Lualis Alvarado continued her impressive start to the season by racking up another 11 kills and providing eight digs. Journey Welling chipped in seven kills and notched two blocks. Adiamar Beaz dished out a match-high 38 assists and had 13 digs.

After Pitt-Johnstown's lead was cut to 20-19 in the first set, the Mountain Cats scored the next four points aided by back-to-back kills by Welling and Pinske to take a 24-19 advantage and hang on in what was a tightly contested set throughout.

The Mountain Cats went down by as many as five early in the second frame, but bounced back to eventually tie the set at 12-all on a West Liberty attack error. They would not trail again after Beaz recorded two kills from her setter position to help the Mountain Cats take a 2-0 lead.

Natalie Lippincott, who finished with six kills and three blocks, put Pitt-Johnstown up 15-13 in the third set before the Hilltoppers scratched out a 6-0 rally to go up 19-15 and hold on from there to make it a 2-1 match.

Alvarado recorded a service ace to put the Mountain Cats on top 6-1 early in the fourth frame. They went up by as many as seven, 11-4, on Jessica Krug's ace before West Liberty cut it to 14-11 after a 7-3 burst.

But an attack error by the Hilltoppers capped an 8-3 Pitt-Johnstown rally to make it 22-14 and all but end the match.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Cassidey Snider (Clarion)
Tylah Yeomans (Wheeling)
Karly Niesen (Wheeling)
Riley Kindall (Wheeling)
London Fuller (Clarion)
Sydney Bray (NDC)
Gabby DeRenzo (UPJ)
Ellie Zuro (Fairmont St.)
 
Outstanding Libero: Nyia Setla (West Liberty)

The Mountain Cats open PSAC play at home in the Sports Center against Seton Hill on Friday at 6 p.m.