• Box Score

ASHLAND, Ohio (Nov. 6) – Behind a 24-kill, 23-dig by senior outside hitter Joanna Nist (Rockwood, Pa./Rockwood), the California University of Pennsylvania volleyball team rallied from a two-set deficit to win 3-2 (22-25, 21-25, 25-14, 25-22, 18-16) at Ashland on Friday in non-conference play.

Playing only their sixth five-set match of the season, the Vulcans improve to 29-5 overall after winning their seventh-straight match. Meanwhile, the Eagles drop to 15-13 this year after having their four-match win streak snapped.

Nist set a season high with both 24 kills and 23 digs for her 18th kill/dig double-double of the season. Fellow seniors Ludmila Amaral (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Afonso Schimidt) and Ashley Moore (Yorktown, Va./Grafton) finished with 12 and 11 kills, respectively. Moore also registered a kill/dig double-double, collecting 18 digs in the win, while Amaral added seven digs and four blocks. Junior libero Julie Paronish (Hastings, Pa./Northern Cambria) paced the defensive effort for Cal U with 30 digs.

Senior All-American setter Renata da Silva (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Colegio Ateneu) directed the offense with 55 assists and also added five digs, two blocks and two service aces. Against Ashland, da Silva became only the fifth player in school history to total 1,000 career digs and is the first player in program history to have 5,000 assists and 1,000 digs in a career.

In the middle, freshman Meghan Franz (Cranberry Twp., Pa./Seneca Valley) posted six kills and a team-high five blocks, while sophomore Bridget Bielich (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) registered eight kills and four blocks.

Cal U concludes the regular season tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 7, when it travels to face Mercyhurst for a 7 p.m. match in Erie. With a win, the Vulcans would register a third-straight undefeated record in divisional/conference play.