Lualis Alvarado began PSAC conference play with a bang by torching Slippery Rock for 29 kills as Pitt-Johnstown bounced back from a one set deficit on two different occasions to earn a 3-2 victory on Friday night at the Sports Center.

The Mountain Cats moved to 13-1 overall (1-0 PSAC) by way of a 23-25, 25-23, 21-25, 25-19, 15-9 decision.

Clinging to an 8-6 lead in the deciding set, Pitt-Johnstown rattled off four straight points with the help of a Mallory Pinske kill and back-to-back service aces from Jessica Krug to push the advantage to 12-6.

The Rock scored the next three points, but a kill from Pinske and an ace from Isabella Gomez put the Mountain Cats at match point. An attack error by Slippery Rock brought the match to a close.

Pinske totaled 11 kills and a team-high five blocks. Natalie Lippincott added six kills. Adiamar Beaz passed out a staggering 53 assists and smacked a match-high four aces. Gabriella DeRenzo collected a match-high 38 digs, while Krug provided 13 digs.

Slippery Rock notched four of the final five points to claim the first set. Pitt-Johnstown immediately repaid the favor. The Mountain Cats turned the tide in the second set with a 6-0 run that included three consecutive kills from Alvarado to take a 20-16 lead they would not let slip away.

Facing a 2-1 deficit after allowing Slippery Rock to score the final six points of the third set, the Mountain Cats punctuated a gritty fourth set performance with six straight points to break a 12-12 tie and go up 18-12. Once again, Alvarado was the difference-maker with three kills during a spurt that helped Pitt-Johnstown force a fifth set.

Callie Chevalier supplied a team-high 15 kills for Slippery Rock, which fell to 7-6 overall (0-1 PSAC).

Pitt-Johnstown will have a week off before hosting Edinboro on Oct. 4 at 6 p.m. in the Sports Center.