• Box Score

WHEELING, W.Va. (Dec. 5) – Behind a balanced offensive and defensive performance, the third-seeded Vulcans advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a 3-0 victory (25-21, 25-21, 25-20) over sixth-seeded Gannon on Thursday afternoon at the Alma Grace McDonough Center.

With the win, the California University of Pennsylvania volleyball team improves to 29-8 overall. The Vulcans will now face second-seeded Clarion tomorrow evening, Friday, Dec. 6, at 5 p.m. The Golden Eagles advanced on Thursday by earning a 3-0 win (25-19, 30-28, 25-21) over Seton Hill. Meanwhile, Gannon finishes the season with 20-14 mark after making its fifth-straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

Junior Laurel Miller (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) led all players with 12 kills on 25 attempts for a .360 hitting percentage. Senior Molly Delaney (Carmel, Ind./Westfield) added nine kills in the victory and four other players collected at least three kills on Thursday. Fellow senior Abbey Freund (Cottage Grove, Wis./Monona Grove) and freshman Kristen Scurpa (Sharpsville, Pa./Sharpsville) directed the offense with 16 and 10 assists, respectively, while Miller and Freund each collected two service aces.

Delaney finished with a team-best nine digs, while Miller and sophomore Samantha Rudy (Greencastle, Pa./Greencastle-Antrim) both tallied seven digs against the Lady Knights. Delaney also recorded a team-best four blocks for the third time in the last four matches and sophomore Miranda Fouzie (Kingston, Ontario/Sydenham) collected three blocks.

The Vulcans won five of the final seven points in the opening set to earn a 25-21 victory. Cal U opened play on Thursday with a 5-1 run before Gannon posted an 8-4 rally to tie the score for the first time at 9-9. After the Lady Knights took their only lead of the match at 11-10, the Vulcans won four of the next five points to reclaim the lead at 14-12. The teams later traded 4-1 runs before Cal U eventually took a 20-18 lead. Following a point by the Lady Knights, the Vulcans closed the set with a 5-2 run.

Delaney and Miller each recorded four kills in the second set, as Cal U posted another 25-21 win. The Vulcans raced out to an 11-2 lead in the second set and never relinquished the lead. Gannon went on a 5-2 rally before Cal U won back-to-back points to take a 15-7 lead. The Lady Knights later registered a pair of 4-0 runs around three-straight points by the Vulcans to trim the deficit to 18-16. The teams traded the next eight points before Cal U earned three of the last four points, as Miller collected kills on back-to-back points to end the set.

Cal U secured the sweep on Thursday after winning the third set by a 25-20 count behind a .280 hitting percentage. The teams each opened the set with a pair of 5-2 runs before the Vulcans followed with another 5-2 rally to take a 12-9 lead. After back-to-back points by Gannon, Cal U mounted a 7-2 run to increase its lead to 19-13. The Lady Knights responded with four-straight points before the Vulcans sealed the victory by winning six of the last seven points.

Cal U will face Clarion tomorrow, Friday, Dec. 6, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Vulcans and Golden Eagles split the regular-season series with each team winning at home. Cal U has advanced past the first round of the NCAA Tournament in each of the last eight years and holds a 25-12 all-time record in the tournament.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Thursday, Dec. 5
Match 1 - (3) California (Pa.) d. (6) Gannon, 3-0 (25-21, 25-21, 25-20)
Match 2 - (2) Clarion d. (7) Seton Hill, 3-0 (25-19, 30-28, 25-21)
Match 3 - (4) Shippensburg d. (5) Pitt-Johnstown, 3-0 (25-20, 26-24, 25-19)
Match 4 - (8) Fayetteville State at (1) Wheeling Jesuit

Friday, Dec. 6
Match 5 - (3) California (Pa.) vs. (2) Clarion, 5 p.m.
Match 6 - (4) Shippensburg vs. Winner of Match 4, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 7
Match 7 - Winner of Match 5 vs. Winner of Match 6, 7 p.m.