CALIFORNIA (Oct. 30) – The California University of Pennsylvania volleyball team opened the second round of Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play with a 3-1 victory (25-20, 25-15, 22-25, 25-23) against Gannon in the Convocation Center on Friday night.
With the victory, the Vulcans improve to 10-16 overall behind an 8-8 conference mark. Meanwhile, the Lady Knights fall to 18-7 this season with an 11-5 record in league play.
Senior Mary Lavery (La Plata, Md./La Plata) led the team with 16 kills, while junior Danielle Hayes (Erie, Pa./McDowell) tallied 13 kills and also posted five service aces. Freshman Seairra Barrett (Center Twp.,/Central Valley) registered nine kills in the victory and junior Megan Litoborski (Lemont, Ill./Lemont) guided the offense with 47 assists.
On defense, sophomore Ashley Leto (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) collected 27 digs, while Hayes added 22 digs for her fourth kill/dig double-double of the year. Lavery added to her double-digit kills with 16 digs and junior libero Abbey Matusik (Mars, Pa./Mars) finished with 14 digs. Barrett controlled the net with an impressive seven blocks and Litoborski added three blocks.
In the first set, Gannon found an early advantage by winning seven of the opening 11 points before Cal U won four of the next five points to tie the score at 8-8. After the Lady Knights picked up the next two points, the Vulcans again won four of five points to take a 12-11 lead behind two service aces from Hayes and two service errors. Again, Gannon won two points before Cal U took six of the next seven points with a pair of three-point rallies to take an 18-14 lead. After a timeout by the Lady Knights, Gannon was able to take three of the next five points to cut the lead to 20-17. The two teams alternated points until the Vulcans won three of the next four points to take the set at 25-20.
Gannon was able to take five of the opening seven points in the second game to jump to an early lead. The teams traded the next four points until Cal U took five of the next six points to cut the lead to 9-8. The Lady Knights were able to end the rally for one point before the Vulcans rallied for another four-consecutive points off of three kills. Cal U then rallied for eight-straight points to increase its lead to 21-12. After Gannon was finally able to break the rally, the Vulcans went on to win four of the last seven points to take the second set, 25-15.
Cal U started the third set by winning the first four points before Gannon tallied six-straight points to take a 6-4 lead and force a timeout by the Vulcans. Following the timeout, Cal U was able to score on five of the next seven points to take a 9-8 lead. The teams split the next 10 points before the Lady Knights won the next three points to take a 16-14 lead. After Cal U won five of the next seven points, Gannon took eight of the next 10 points to win its first set of the night, 25-22.
In the fourth and final game, the Lady Knights took five of the first seven points before the Vulcans won three straight to tie the score. Gannon responded with four-straight points to force Cal U to call a timeout. Cal U was able to take three of the next four to cut the lead to 10-8. The Lady Knights responded with three of the next four points to increase the lead to 13-9 before the Vulcans returned with three-consecutive points to cut the lead to 13-12. After splitting the next 10 points, Cal U won six of the next seven points, including a rally of four points, to take a 23-19 lead. After Gannon took the next two points, the Vulcans were able to end the rally to take one point before losing the next two, making the score 24-23 in favor of the Vulcans. The comeback fell short as Cal U took the next point to take the set and the match at 25-23.
The Vulcans return to action tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 31, when they host Mercyhurst at 1 p.m.
