EASTON, Pa. – The University of Pennsylvania women's volleyball team finished with a 2-1 record at the Crosstown Invitational, coming back from a first-set loss to defeat Lafayette on Saturday, 3-1. The match took place at the Kirby Sports Center on Lafayette's campus.
 
Penn's 3-1 win came by scores of 27-29, 25-15, 25-20, 25-22.
 
Lafayette jumped out to the early lead, winning a stirring first set that saw both teams with at least one set point. After the teams were tied at 25-25, 26-26 and 27-27, the Leopards scored twice for the 29-27 win. Penn bounced back immediately, jumping ahead quickly and never looking back en route to a 25-15 victory in the second set.
 
The third set was tied at 18-18, before Penn was able to pull away with seven of the final nine points for the 25-20 win. Margaret Planek played an instrumental role in the final few points with a kill and a block which set the stage for the winning point.
 
The Quakers jumped out quickly again in the fourth set, led by Parker Jones. It wasn't long before Penn had doubled up its host, and that lead extended to as much as eight points (20-12) before Lafayette made a run and got back to within 23-22. The Red and Blue called a timeout and that settled things down; Penn scored the next two points and clinched the match win.
 
Penn is at home for the first time in 2019 next Friday and Saturday, hosting Duquesne, Chicago State and St. Francis Brooklyn at the Valley Forge Sports Invitational. The Quakers will play Duquesne on Friday at 7 p.m., and then on Saturday they host Chicago State at 10 a.m. and St. Francis Brooklyn at 5 p.m.