ERIE, Pa. (Oct. 18) – The California University of Pennsylvania volleyball team had its 13-match win streak snapped on Saturday afternoon at the Hammermill Center when it suffered a 3-0 loss (25-13, 25-19, 25-20) at Gannon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play.
With the loss, the Vulcans fall to 20-6 overall with a 12-3 mark in league action. Cal U is now tied for third in the divisional standings after completing the first round of PSAC West play. Meanwhile, Gannon improves to 20-2 overall behind a 13-2 record in conference play.
Senior
Laurel Miller (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) recorded a team-high 10 kills and added seven digs. Junior
Miranda Fouzie (Kingston, Ontario/Sydenham) tallied nine kills on a .292 attack percentage, while junior
Mary Lavery (La Plata, Md./La Plata) totaled five kills. Sophomore
Megan Litoborski (Lemont, Ill./Lemont) dished out a team-high 15 assists and classmate
Kristen Scurpa (Sharpsville, Pa./Sharpsville) added seven assists.
Junior
Samantha Rudy (Greencastle, Pa./Greencastle-Antrim) paced the defense with 16 digs and was one of five players who registered at least six digs. Litoborski totaled 12 digs for her sixth assist/dig double-double of the month. Sophomore
Danielle Hayes (Erie, Pa./McDowell) led the team with five blocks, while Fouzie and redshirt freshman
Rachel Snyder (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) collected four blocks.
In the first set, Gannon took an early 9-4 lead before Cal U won back-to-back points. The Lady Knights then won six-straight straight points to take a 15-6 lead and later claimed four of five points to stretch the lead to 19-8. Following a point by Cal U, Gannon won four-consecutive points before earning a 25-13 victory.
The second set saw five ties and three lead changes, as Cal U and Gannon traded points early in the set. The Lady Knights then mounted a 12-2 run to take a sizeable 16-7 lead before the Vulcans won three-straight points. Cal U later won seven of 11 points to trim the deficit to 22-17 before the team split the points with Gannon posting a 25-19 win.
In the third set, the Lady Knights won three-straight points before the Vulcans countered with four-consecutive points to take an 8-6 lead. Gannon countered by winning six of the next eight points to take a 12-10 lead before Cal U responded with four of five points to reclaim the lead at 14-13. The Lady Knights answered by claiming five of seven points to take an 18-16 lead and later closed the set on a 5-2 run to earn the 25-20 victory.
The Vulcans continue league play on Friday, Oct. 24, when they host division-leading Clarion at 7 p.m.
