PHOENIXVILLE, Pa. – Junior Katie Alvarez recorded double-digit digs in back-to-back matches as the Centenary University volleyball team opened its 2018 season with a tri-match against Valley Forge and Penn State Abington on Saturday.

Valley Forge took the opener by a 3-1 score before PSU Abington secured a 3-0 win in the Cyclones' second contest of the day.

Valley Forge Recap
The Patriots jumped out to an early lead with a 25-8 first set win. However, the Cyclones held Valley Forge to a -.054 hitting percentage in the second set and tied the match at 1-1 with a 26-24 set victory. The Patriots battled back and took the third set by a 25-7 margin and claimed victory in the match with a 25-18 fourth set win.

Alvarez finished with 12 digs and five kills for the Cyclones while senior Melissa Krueger dished out 10 assists.

Megan Freed led Valley Forge with 12 kills while Kaitlyn Hess contributed 20 assists and 10 digs.

Penn State Abington Recap
In the Penn State Abington match, the Nittany Lions took an early lead with a 25-11 win in set one. The Cyclones battled in set two, falling by a 25-18 margin. Penn State Abington closed out the match with a 25-11 win in set three.

Alvarez had 10 digs and three kills for the Cyclones while senior Valentina Suizzo added six digs.

Elizabeth Erhart led Penn State Abington with 10 service aces and 12 digs.

The Cyclones will be back in action on Tuesday, Sept. 4 as they travel to the City College of New York for a 7 p.m. match.