For seven years, a win over the Washington & Jefferson Presidents always seemed impossible for the Waynesburg University Yellow Jackets volleyball program, but Saturday was different. The Jackets took down the Presidents, and finally recorded a win for the first time since the 2012 season. The win was significant for other reasons as well. It marked the first Presidents’ Athletic Conference victory of the year for the Jackets, in what was the final match of the 2019 regular season. The win also came on Senior Day at the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse, where Alyssa Proper, the only senior on the team, was honored.

The Jackets got off to a great start, winning the first set 25-22. The Presidents earned their only win in the second set, 25-18. Waynesburg then won the next two sets, by the same exact score of 25-22, earning the three sets to one win over their I-79 rival.

Communication has been an issue for Waynesburg all year, and  Jackets coach Hayley Kirby said the team communicated well Saturday, which was a big reason for the win. 

“We got a lot of balls up, and we were communicating a lot, so we finally put it all together today,” Kirby said. “We were just really excited. We had nothing to lose today.”

Sophomore Hannah Buhr lead the Jackets with 19 kills. Junior Hannah Colvin added 14 additional kills as well as 17 digs for a double-double. Sophomore Alyson Johnson lead the way on defense with 34 digs.

The lone senior also played a big role, racking up 30 assists.

“I think we all rallied around Alyssa and really wanted to win for her, so we really played as a team. Alyssa really pulled everyone together today,” Kirby said.

Haley Nelson lead the Presidents in kills with 13. Other leaders included Mallory O’Brien with 23 assists, and Makenzie Coughlin with 29 digs.

The Jackets finished the season with an overall record of 4-23 and 1-15 in PAC play. The entire team is expected to return next season, with the only exception being the graduating Proper.