SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. (Oct. 24) – The Vulcans completed the first round of Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play with a 3-0 victory (25-20, 25-18, 25-20) at Slippery Rock on Saturday afternoon.

With the win, the California University of Pennsylvania volleyball team improves to 9-15 overall behind a 7-7 league mark. Meanwhile, The Rock falls to 10-18 on the year with a 3-12 conference record.

Senior Danielle Hayes (Erie, Pa./McDowell) posted 14 kills with a .429 hitting percentage and also recorded a season-high 18.5 points. Senior Mary Lavery (La Plata, Md./La Plata) collected 10 kills in the win and has now tallied double-digit kills in the last five matches. Junior Megan Litoborski (Lemont, Ill./Lemont) directed  the offense with 39 assists.

Defensively, sophomore Ashley Leto (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) lead the team with 14 digs and Litoborski registered 11 digs to collect another assist/dig double-double. Hayes and freshman Seairra Barrett (Center Twp.,/Central Valley) posted three blocks each to lead the Vulcans.

In the first set, the teams traded the opening six points of the contest before Cal U was able to rally for six-straight points accented by a service ace from Hayes to extend the lead to 9-3. The teams exchanged the next eight points to make the score 13-7. The Vulcans took four of the next six points before Slippery Rock went on a run of five points to cut the lead to 18-15. Cal U won three of the next four points before the teams alternated the final eight points of the set, which the Vulcans won 25-20.

The second set started as the first one did with the two teams splitting the initial 14 points before the Vulcans won four of the next five points to take an 11-8 lead. The teams again alternated the next 10 points before Cal U went on a six-point rally with three errors from The Rock to make the score 21-14. The teams then each traded consecutive points until the Vulcans took the second set 25-18.

Once again, the two teams split the first six points to the start the third set. Cal U rallied for three-straight points off of two service aces from Hayes to take a 6-3 lead. Slippery Rock took the next two points before the Vulcans won five of the next six points to take an 11-6 lead after three errors from The Rock. After dropping two of the next three points, Slippery Rock called a timeout and went on a five-point run to cut the lead to 13-12. Cal U won four of the next six to make the score 17-14. The teams alternated the next five points before the Vulcans won three of the next five points. The match came to an end with Cal U winning three of the last four to take the set 25-20.

The Vulcans return to action Friday, Oct. 30, when they travel to face Gannon in Erie, Pennsylvania, at 7 p.m.