• Box Score

WHEELING, W.Va. (Dec. 1) – In a rematch of last year's regional final, the Vulcans suffered a 3-1 loss (25-18, 25-16, 19-25, 25-16) at No. 18 Wheeling Jesuit in the NCAA Atlantic Regional Championship on Saturday night.

With the loss, the California University of Pennsylvania volleyball team finishes the season with a 30-8 overall record. The Vulcans have played in seven-consecutive regional championships and have recorded at least 30 wins seven times in the last eight years. Meanwhile, the Cardinals capture their second-straight regional title and improve to 38-2 this year with their only regional loss coming during the regular season to the Vulcans.

Seniors Kelly Fromknecht (Erie, Pa./McDowell) and Brandy Harris (Bedford, Pa./Bedford) both led the team with 10 kills and recorded double-doubles on Saturday night. Fromknecht recorded a .304 hitting percentage and collected 10 assists for her 12th double-double of the season. She also collected six digs and four blocks in the loss. Harris added 12 digs in the loss for her 12th double-double of the year and 23rd of her career.

Sophomore Julia Muzy (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil/Liceu Franco Brasileiro) and senior Meghan Franz (Cranberry Twp., Pa./Seneca Valley) added eight and seven kills, respectively, and Franz collected four blocks. Junior setter Abbey Freund (Cottage Grove, Wis./Monona Grove) also recorded a double-double in the loss, finishing with 26 assists and 12 digs.

Junior libero Molly Delaney (Carmel, Ind./Westfield) paced the defense with 22 digs on Friday.

In the opening set, Wheeling Jesuit opened with a 9-2 run before winning four of the next six points to take a commanding 13-4 lead. The Vulcans then mounted an 11-5 rally to trim the deficit to 18-15 on a kill by Harris. Wheeling Jesuit then won five of the next six points to take a 23-16 lead before finishing the set with a 25-18 victory.

The Cardinals again took an early lead in the second set, winning four of the first five points. Trailing 5-2, Cal U won four-straight points to take a 6-5 lead on a service ace by Franz. Wheeling Jesuit responded with a 7-2 rally to reclaim the lead at 12-8 before Cal U countered with a 5-2 run to cut the deficit to 15-13. The Cardinals then took control of the set with a 5-2 rally, stretching the lead to 20-15 before closing the set with five-consecutive points.

In the third set, the two teams traded points early in the set with Wheeling Jesuit leading 9-7. The Vulcans then won five-straight points to take a 12-9 lead on a kill by senior Bridget Bielich (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park). Wheeling Jesuit countered with four-consecutive points to take a 13-12 lead before Cal U responded with an 8-2 run to take a 20-15 lead on a block by Fromknecht and freshman Miranda Fouzie (Kingston, Ontario/Sydenham). The Vulcans moved into position to clinch the set victory by winning three-straight points before Franz sealed the 25-19 win with a kill.

The Cardinals opened the fourth set on a 6-1 run and forced the Vulcans into an early timeout. Cal U cut the deficit to 8-5 on a kill by Fromknecht before Wheeling Jesuit claimed five-straight points to stretch the lead to 12-5. The Cardinals later mounted a 7-2 run to take a commanding 21-11 lead before the Vulcans countered with three-straight points to cut the deficit to 21-14. However, Wheeling Jesuit secured the match victory by winning four of the last six points, 25-16.

Wheeling Jesuit advances to face No. 7 Tampa from the South Region in Pensacola, Fla., on Thursday, Dec. 6, in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Thursday, Nov. 29
Match 1 - (3) California (Pa.) d. (6) Shippensburg, 3-1 (26-24, 25-27, 25-18, 25-18)
Match 2 - (2) Gannon d. (7) Mercyhurst, 3-1 (25-13, 20-25, 26-14, 25-23)
Match 3 - (4) Clarion d. (5) Lock Haven, 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-23)
Match 4 - (1) Wheeling Jesuit d. (8) Fayetteville State, 3-0 (25-10, 25-15, 25-10)

Friday, Nov. 30
Match 5 - (3) California (Pa.) d. (2) Gannon, 3-1 (25-20, 23-25, 25-19, 25-18)
Match 6 - (1) Wheeling Jesuit d. (4) Clarion, 3-2 (23-25, 25-18, 19-25, 26-24, 15-10)

Saturday, Dec. 1
Match 7 - (1) Wheeling Jesuit d. (3) California (Pa.), 3-1 (25-18, 25-16, 19-25, 25-16)