CALIFORNIA (Nov. 13) – The Vulcans
extended their winning streak to seven matches with a 3-1 victory (25-27, 25-10, 25-20, 25-14) against Slippery Rock in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action on Friday night at the Convocation Center.
With the win, the California University of Pennsylvania volleyball team moves to 15-16 overall behind a 13-8 mark in conference play. Cal U claimed sole possession of fourth place in the divisional standings and holds a 1.0-game lead over both Seton Hill and Mercyhurst entering the final day of the regular season. The Vulcans hold the head-to-head set tiebreaker with the Griffins, while the Lakers own the set tiebreaker over the Vulcans. Meanwhile, The Rock falls to 10-24 on the year with a 3-18 record in league action.
Junior
Danielle Hayes (Erie, Pa./McDowell) led the team with 13 kills, while freshman
Seairra Barrett (Center Twp./Central Valley) and sophomore Ashely Leto (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) each posted 10 kills. Junior
Megan Litoborski (Lemont, Ill./Lemont) guided the offense with 39 assists in the victory.
On the defense, reigning PSAC West Athlete of the Week senior
Mary Lavery (La Plata, Md./La Plata) led the team and registered a career-high 24 digs. Hayes and Leto recorded 20 digs and 17 digs, respectively, for kill/dig double-doubles, while Litoborski added 16 digs for an assist/dig double-double. Senior
Miranda Fouzie (Kingston, Ontario/Syndenham) posted a team-leading five blocks, while Hayes and Barrett both recorded three blocks.
In the first set, Slippery Rock took advantage of a four-point rally and another run of three-consecutive points to take an early 9-4 lead. After a timeout by the Vulcans, the two teams alternated the next 10 points to make the score 14-9, which resulted in another Cal U timeout. The Vulcans then won four-straight points and seven of eight to cut the lead to 16-15. Cal U went on to win five of the next eight poitns to take a 21-18 lead and then won three-consecutive points before The Rock rallied for five-straight points to tie the score at 24-24. The Vulcans won the next point to break the rally, but lost the next three points as Slippery Rock won the set, 27-25.
Cal U started the second set by winning eight of the first 13 points before winning eight-consecutive points to take a 16-5 lead. The two teams traded points before the Vulcans won six of the next seven points, including a pair of three-point rallies to extend the lead to 24-9. The Rock were able to break the rally before Cal U won the next point to win the set 25-10.
The teams traded the opening 10 points of the set as the Vulcans took an early 6-4 lead. Cal U won six of the next eight points to increase the lead to 12-7. Slippery Rock responded by winning eight of the next 10 points to tie the set at 14-14. The two sides then traded points, including alternating four-point rallies, to make the score 21-19 in favor of the Vulcans. Cal U rallied again to win five of the last six points to win the set, 25-20.
Slippery Rock started the final set by opening an early 6-4 lead. The Vulcans responded by winning four of the next five points to take an 8-7 lead. The Rock were able to break the rally before Cal U took four-straight points to increase the lead to 12-8. After Slippery Rock took four of the next seven points, the Vulcans rallied for seven-consecutive points to extend the lead to 21-12. The Rock was able to break the rally before Cal U won four of the last five points to win the set, 25-12.
The Vulcans return to action tomorrow, Saturday Nov. 14, when they host Edinboro, who has clinched the top seed in the PSAC West, on Senior Day in the Convocation Center at 3 p.m.
