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# Findlay 3, IUP 1: three two-point finishes decide a close opener
- URL: https://www.mayberrysports.com/findlay-3-iup-1-three-two-point-finishes-decide-a-close-opener/
- Published: 2026-10-16T12:24:35.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-16T12:24:35.000Z
- Author: Rick Mayberry
- Tags: Women's Volleyball, #report, Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, IUP, #Import 2026-10-16 08:25

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WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL · RETROSPECTIVE · AUGUST 27, 2026

## Executive brief

IUP’s August 27, 2026, visit to Findlay ended in a four-set defeat, but the set-by-set detail tells a tighter story than the 3–1 result alone. Findlay won 27–25, 26–24, 19–25 and 25–23\. Every set the Oilers won finished by two points, while IUP claimed the third by six.

The Crimson Hawks finished with the stronger overall hitting percentage and more team blocks. Those advantages did not translate into the decisive points at the end of the three close sets.

## The decisive stretches

In the first set, Findlay moved from 15–15 to 19–15, including three consecutive Kirsten Bomholt aces. IUP answered with three consecutive Kyra Schmidt aces to tie the set at 19\. The teams remained close through 25–25, before an IUP service error and an attacking error closed it for Findlay.

The second set was especially costly for IUP. The Crimson Hawks led 17–11 and later held a 24–22 set point opportunity. Findlay took the last four points: an Abria Lomax kill, two Stephanie Smith kills and an IUP attacking error. The turnaround put IUP two sets down rather than level at one apiece.

IUP recovered to win the third 25–19, hitting .294 while holding Findlay to .139\. The fourth returned to a narrow finish, and Findlay’s 25–23 win settled the match.

## Why the totals did not decide it

IUP hit .263 for the match, compared with Findlay’s .220, and led 9–5 in team blocks. The kill totals were nearly even at 50–49 in Findlay’s favor, and each team served 11 aces. IUP made 15 service errors against Findlay’s 12.

Summing the set scores produces 97 points for each side. That arithmetic does not change the result: volleyball awards the match through sets, and Findlay won three of the four. It does, however, illustrate why the opening two set finishes matter more to this account than a broad claim that one team controlled the entire evening.

## Player impact

Jessica Neiman led IUP with 12 kills and a .333 hitting percentage. Delaney Concannon contributed nine kills and 12 digs. Charlotte Potvin added eight kills without an attacking error on 14 attempts, while Mikalah Kim and Sammy Stephens each recorded five block assists.

Maddie Zechman supplied 21 assists and Ellie Rauch added 17\. Brooke Kessler led IUP with 14 digs. Schmidt’s four aces included the first-set run that erased Findlay’s four-point lead.

For Findlay, Hannah Miller recorded 16 kills and Smith added 14\. Bomholt combined 18 assists with four aces, and Zoya Winkelfoos registered 20 assists.

## PSAC perspective

The official match record lists IUP at 0–1 overall and 0–0 in PSAC play afterward. This was a nonconference opening result, not a conference-table setback. The useful takeaway is specific: IUP generated enough offense and blocking to stay competitive, but Findlay converted the late opportunities in all three sets it won.

## Source

[Official PSAC box score](https://psacsports.org/boxscore.aspx?id=7ltyipP022aUJKmSgYVs3wXi7up73ghniwD5ElWyd07J7BNseBaMQePf0fY%2f3yUP%2bXPDO6qOF9SyxhVsW69tOThZN%2ffavDG3jMN5nNxhLgaEeIh40kWBDwkQGvmGyKfjBkhI3Pz5z%2fNNbPe3Eb8gQRlwEujXvoM7UwaDI7HKJ8Y%3d&path=wvball&ref=mayberrysports.com)