INDIANA, Pa. (Nov. 6) – The Vulcans extended their winning streak to five matches after a 3-0 victory (25-22, 25-11, 25-17) at IUP during Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action on Friday night.

With the win, the California University of Pennsylvania volleyball team improves to 13-16 on the year with an 11-8 mark in conference play. Meanwhile, the Crimson Hawks lost for the fourth time in their last five matches to fall to 16-13 overall behind an 8-11 league record.

Sophomore Ashley Leto (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) led the team with nine kills behind a .444 hitting percentage. Freshman Seairra Barrett (Center Twp.,/Central Valley) collected eight kills on a .429 hitting percentage and senior Mary Lavery (La Plata, Md./La Plata) posted seven kills. Junior Megan Litoborski (Lemont, Ill./Lemont) guided the offense with 29 assists in the sweep.

On the defensive side, Lavery tallied 13 digs and Leto followed with 10 digs. Junior Danielle Hayes (Erie, Pa./McDowell) also posted eight digs, while classmate Abby Matusik (Mars, Pa./Mars) tallied seven digs. Leto and Barrett both totaled two blocks.

In the first set, IUP won three of the opening five points before Cal U rallied for six of the next eight points, including four-consecutive points to take an 8-5 lead. The Crimson Hawks responded by winning five of the next seven points to tie the match at 10-10. The Vulcans started to pull away by winning six-straight points to take a 16-10 lead before the Crimson Hawks responded again by winning five of the next seven points to cut the deficit to 18-17. After a timeout, Cal U increased the lead to 23-19 before IUP took three of the next four to cut the lead to 24-22. The Vulcans won the last point of the set after a service error from IUP to win 25-22.

Cal U jumped out to an early lead in the second set, winning five of the initial six points. IUP responded by winning four-consecutive points to tie the score. The Vulcans then won eight of the next nine points, including rallies of three and five points after four attacking errors by the Crimson Hawks. The teams split the next six points to give Cal U a 16-10 lead. The Vulcans took the next six points to increase the lead to 22-10 off two service aces from Hayes and two attacking errors from the home team. IUP was able to break the rally before Cal U won three-straight points to win the second set 25-11.

After splitting 14 points to start the third game, the Crimson Hawks won four of the next six points to hold an 11-9 lead. The Vulcans responded with a six-point rally to create a 15-11 lead. IUP was able to break the rally with two points of its own before Cal U took four of the next five points after three kills from Leto. After a Crimson Hawks timeout, the Vulcans won six of the final nine points to win the set 25-17 and win the match.

Cal U returns to action tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 7, when it travels to play Clarion in the final road match of the season at 1 p.m.