ERIE — The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford women’s volleyball team fell to top-seeded Penn State Behrend in straight sets at the AMCC Championship game Sunday afternoon.

Despite losing to the Lions, who went through their AMCC slate undefeated, the Panthers pushed the champions to the edge early in the match.

After losing the first three rallies of the day, the Panthers answered with three points of their own. Pitt-Bradford took the lead in the set at 5-4 following an Emily Cleveland kill, and remained in front of or even with Penn State-Behrend for the majority of the opening set.

A Riley Anderson kill put the Panthers 12-9 and forced the Lions to take a timeout. Behrend did grab a short advantage at 13-14, but the Panthers hopped right back in front, picking up a point on a service error by the Lions and regaining the lead on a Katie Rose service ace. Pitt-Bradford maintained that until the closing stages of the set, when the Lions finished on a 5-1 run to clinch the opening point.

The Lions then took the second set 25-16.

With their season on the line, the Panthers came out strong in the third set, building an early 7-4 lead. The Panthers saw their momentum stopped by a five-point Behrend run, but battled to find themselves up a point at 16-15 following back-to-back kills from Alexandra Segura. Following a time out, the Lions quickly retook control of the set, scoring five of six points to take a three-point lead and went on to win 25-21.

Cleveland and Katie Treat led the Panthers in kills, both finishing with seven. Cleveland also added three service aces and was in on three blocks. Tabitha Walker recorded 17 assists, while Laura Hildebrand led the team in digs with 21.

UPB finished the season 18-13, going 6-2 over its final eight contests.

Cleveland finished the season with 376 kills, which will likely be the top mark in the conference.