Driven by a raucous home-opening crowd, the William Penn volleyball competed throughout, but came up short in a 3-1 setback to Waldorf in non-conference action Tuesday.

WPU (1-6) lost by scores of 22-25, 25-20, 22-25, 19-25 and was outhit .191-.158. Behind 13 kills and a .355 hitting clip by Savanna Hartman (Jr., Morgan Hill, Calif., Psychology), the home squad battled in each and every set.

The first set witnessed six ties and the navy and gold leading 22-20, but the Statesmen permitted five unanswered to fall behind 1-0.

A total of 13 ties were recorded in the see-saw second set, but this time around William Penn held off the Warriors (2-5). An early 7-3 advantage in the third round gave way to another tense battle that Waldorf eventually captured.

The Statesmen were again in control in the fourth as they attempted to knot up the contest. Unfortunately, their 15-11 edge went by the wayside and WC finished off the victory.

Erika Getz (Sr., Parsons, Kan., Physical Education) managed seven kills and Justine Arguelles (Fr., Ventura, Calif., Biology) added six winners to complement Hartman, while Leyra Jusino (Sr., Bayamon, P.R., General Biology) (22 assists) and Haley Smith (Fr., Adrian, Mich., Elementary Education) (11) were a solid 1-2 punch at setter. Danielle Breeher (Sr., St. Louis, Mo., Biology) served up two of her team’s four aces.

Defensively, Claire Simmons (Fr., Williamsburg, Iowa, Psychology) finished with 15 digs and Arguelles came up five block assists.

“The good thing is we were in each set, but we just continue to struggle in finishing off our opponents,” Head Coach Jennifer Carlson said. “We will keep working on late-game situations and hopefully we will start being on the other end of these tight ones.”

Next Up: William Penn is off the rest of the week, returning to action next Wednesday by traveling to Fayette, Mo. to face Central Methodist in its Heart of America Athletic Conference opener at 7 p.m.

Story provided by Wade Steinlage