• Box Score

CALIFORNIA (Oct. 28) – The Vulcans took sole possession of first place in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West standings on Friday night with a 3-1 win (25-14, 25-22, 21-25, 25-22) over Mercyhurst in league play at Hamer Hall.

With its fifth-straight victory, the California University of Pennsylvania volleyball team improves to 25-4 overall this year. The Vulcans, who were third in the initial NCAA regional rankings, now lead the divisional standings by one match with 14-2 mark after Gannon suffered a loss at IUP on Friday. Meanwhile, the Lakers fall to 14-15 this season with a 6-10 mark in conference action.

Junior Kelly Fromknecht (Erie, Pa./McDowell) led the team with 13 kills on a .435 hitting percentage and classmate Meghan Franz (Cranberry Twp., Pa./Seneca Valley) added 11 kills against the Lakers. Sophomore Abbey Freund (Cottage Grove, Wis./Monona Grove) and senior Kortney Eshleman (Greencastle, Pa./Greencastle) directed the offense on Friday night with 25 and 20 assists, respectively. Freund also collected three service aces in the win.

Senior Sara McMullen (State College, Pa./State College) finished with a team-high 22 digs, while junior Brandy Harris (Bedford, Pa./Bedford) and Eshleman posted 12 and 10 digs, respectively. Junior Chelsea Wilson (Bellwood, Pa./Bellwood Antis) recorded four blocks, and Franz and redshirt junior Bridget Bielich (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) each tallied three blocks.

The Vulcans continue their weekend homestand tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 29, when they host Gannon at 2 p.m.