• Box Score vs. Clarion
• Box Score vs. Slippery Rock

CALIFORNIA (Sept. 25) – The California University of Pennsylvania volleyball team suffered its first regular-season loss in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) play since 2006 on Friday before rallying to claim a split of its weekend action on Saturday.

With the split, the Vulcans move to 8-7 overall this season and 5-1 in league play.

Cal U opened the weekend with a 3-1 loss (20-25, 25-22, 25-27, 21-25) at Clarion (12-1, 5-0), marking an end to a 46-match winning streak against conference opponents during the regular season. Against the Golden Eagles, sophomore Kelly Fromknecht (Erie, Pa./McDowell) led the offense with a season- and career-high 15 kills. Classmates Chelsea Wilson (Bellwood, Pa./Bellwood Antis) and Meghan Franz (Cranberry Twp., Pa./Seneca Valley) added nine and seven kills, respectively. Sophomore outside hitter Brandy Harris (Bedford, Pa./Bedford) tallied six kills, nine digs and five blocks (three solo) in the loss.

Senior Julie Paronish (Hastings, Pa./Northern Cambria) was one of four players to register double-figure digs, finishing with a team-high 26. Freshman Abbey Freund (Cottage Grove, Wis./Monona Grove) collected a season-high 15 digs and 12 assists, while juniors Sara McMullen (State College, Pa./State College) and Katya Kopanarova (Sofia, Bulgaria/81 Victor Hugo) combined for 25 digs.

On Saturday, the Vulcans lost the first two sets before rallying to a 3-2 win (20-25, 21-25, 25-13, 25-21, 15-10) at Slippery Rock (6-8, 4-2). Cal U featured a balanced offensive attack, as four players reached double-digit kills. Wilson led the unit with 13 kills, while Franz, Fromknecht and Harris each finished with 10 kills. Fromknecht and Franz were also major presences at the net in terms of blocks. Fromknecht finished with six total blocks (three solo), while Franz collected nine blocks (two solo).

Junior setter Kortney Eshleman (Greencastle, Pa./Greencastle) directed the offense with 40 assists and posted her second double-double of the year with 15 digs. Freshman Megan Casey (Newtown, Conn./Newtown) paced the defense with 21 digs, while senior Arica Smith (Mansfield, Pa./Mansfield) finished with a career-high 16 digs. Harris and Kopanarova totaled 15 and 10 digs, respectively.

Cal U returns to action on Tuesday, Sept. 28, when it hosts IUP for a conference match at Hamer Hall, beginning at 7 p.m. Live video of the match will be available via America One by clicking here.