PITTSBURGH, Pa.-- The Case Western Reserve University volleyball team improved to 8-3 for the season with victories versus Allegheny College (PA) and Johns Hopkins University (MD) during the opening day of the Carnegie Mellon University (PA) Crossover in Pittsburgh. The Spartans have now won five in a row and six of seven overall.

Case completes weekend action on Saturday versus Muskingum University and Trine University (IN) at 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m., respectively.

The Spartans defeated Allegheny (3-8 overall) in three sets; 25-18, 25-21 and 25-15. Senior outside hitter Beth Karpinski (Avon Lake, OH/Avon Lake) posted a team-high 12 kills. Junior ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American Tricia McCutchan (Hamilton, OH/Badin) and junior outside hitter Rachel Suchy (Venetia, PA/Peters Township) posted nine and seven kills, respectively. Sophomore setter Breana Freeman (Geneva, OH/Geneva) totaled 35 assists and sophomore setter Rachel Gulasey (Cleveland, OH/Magnificat) recorded 12 digs.

Case and Johns Hopkins (5-5 overall) went four games with the Spartans prevailing 25-14, 25-14, 23-25 and 25-18. McCutchan led the attack with 22 kills. Suchy posted 12 kills while Karpinski and junior middle hitter Ellie Lyman (Sawyer, MI/Bridgman) each totaled 11. Freeman once again paced the attack with 50 assists. Karpinski and Gulasey led the defensive effort with 28 and 26 digs, respectively.  

Following tomorrow's matches, the Spartans return to action on Tuesday, September 21 at the College of Wooster at 7:00 p.m.