CALIFORNIA (Sept. 11) – The California University of Pennsylvania volleyball team opened play at the third-annual Vulcan Invitational on Friday at the Convocation Center with a 3-1 victory against Fairmont State before suffering a 3-2 loss to Truman (Mo.).

With the split, the Vulcans move to 1-5 this season while already playing matches against teams from four different conferences.

Against Fairmont State (3-2) of the Mountain East Conference (MEC), Cal U earned a 3-1 win (25-23, 25-22, 19-25, 25-21) behind five players with at least seven kills. Sophomore Ashley Leto (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) tallied her second kill/dig double-double of the season with 10 kills and 13 digs, while also adding five service aces and three blocks. Junior Danielle Hayes (Erie, Pa./McDowell) and senior Miranda Fouzie (Kingston, Ontario/Sydenham) each collected eight kills and Fouzie also registered eight blocks in the victory. Freshman Seairra Barrett (Center Twp., Pa./Central Valley) and junior Abby Matusik (Mars, Pa./Mars) both totaled seven kills in the balanced offensive attack.

Junior setters Megan Litoborski (Lemont, Ill./Lemont) and Kristen Scurpa (Sharpsville, Pa./Sharpsville) both directed the offense with assist/dig double-doubles versus the Fighting Falcons. Litoborski led the team with both 24 assists and 17 digs, while Scurpa posted 15 assists and 11 digs. Freshman libero Bayleana Sowers (Mt. Wolf, Pa./Northeastern) added 12 digs, as Cal U boasted five players with double-digit digs.

Against Truman (4-2) of the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC), the Vulcans dropped a 3-2 match (17-25, 25-14, 25-11, 19-25, 15-11) on Friday evening. Hayes established a career high with 15 kills on 38 attempts for a .316 hitting percentage. Barrett posted 10 kills while hitting at a .300 clip and Matusik finished with eight kills on 40 attacks. Litoborski and Scurpa each again registered assist/dig double-doubles against the Bulldogs with Litoborski posting 20 assists and 16 digs and Scurpa totaling 19 assists and 12 digs.

Leto paced the defensive effort and set a career high with 23 digs, while Sowers finished with 16 digs. Fouzie helped control the net with six blocks, while Hayes and Matusik both posted four blocks.

The Vulcans return to action tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 12, at their home tournament with matches against Saginaw Valley State (Mich.) and Bridgeport (Conn.), starting at 10 a.m.