• Box Score vs. Quincy (Ill.)
• Box Score vs. Northwood (Mich.)
• Box Score vs. Saginaw Valley (Mich.)
• Box Score vs. Ferris State (Mich.)

BIG RAPIDS, Mich. (Aug. 29) – The No. 14 California University of Pennsylvania volleyball team managed a 2-2 record at the season-opening Ferris State (Mich.) Invitational over the weekend with wins over Northwood (Mich.) and the host Bulldogs.

The Vulcans opened the tournament on Friday with a 3-2 loss (13-25, 25-23, 10-25, 27-25, 15-13) to Quincy (Ill.) of the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC). Senior outside hitter Joanna Nist (Rockwood, Pa./Rockwood) collected a double-double against the Lady Hawks with 15 digs and 10 kills, while sophomore Sara McMullen (State College, Pa./State College) added 20 digs. Senior All-American setter Renata da Silva (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Colegio Ateneu) registered 30 assists in the loss.

In the second match on Friday, Cal U claimed a 3-0 victory (25-14, 25-18, 25-21) against Northwood (Mich.) behind eight kills from senior Ludmila Amaral (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Afonso Schimidt) and 12 digs by classmate Ashley Moore (Yorktown, Va. / Grafton).

Cal U suffered 3-2 loss (14-25, 25-20, 26-24, 17-25, 15-13) on Saturday morning to Saginaw Valley (Mich.), who finished last season ranked in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top 25 poll. Sophomore Bridget Bielich (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) led the Vulcans with 20 kills, while Nist and Amaral finished 17 and 14 kills, respectively. Moore and junior Julie Paronish (Hastings, Pa./Northern Cambria) paced the defensive effort with 16 digs and Nist added 13 digs. Freshman middle hitter Meghan Franz (Cranberry Twp., Pa./Seneca Valley) registered four blocks in the match.

The Vulcans closed the tournament with a 3-1 victory (25-16, 27-25, 22-25, 25-12) over Ferris State behind a 14-kill, 19-dig double-double by Nist, the two-time Daktronics Atlantic Region Player of the Year. Moore and Bielich recorded 11 and 10 kills, respectively, while Paronish added 12 digs.

Cal U returns to action on Friday, Sept. 4, when it travels to Florence, Ala., for the North Alabama Classic. The Vulcans will face two teams that were ranked in the AVCA Top 25 poll last season at the two-day tournament.

Notes: Seniors Renata da Silva and Ashley Moore were named to the all-tournament team following the two-day event.