SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. (Nov. 5) – In a key match between regionally-ranked teams, the California University of Pennsylvania volleyball team suffered a 3-0 loss (20-25, 25-27, 16-25) in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Crossover play on Saturday afternoon.

With the loss, the Vulcans fall to 18-8 overall with a 10-5 record in conference action. Cal U was slotted fifth in the initial regional rankings this week, while Shippensburg was positioned sixth in the rankings. Meanwhile, the Raiders improve to 24-5 this season behind an 11-4 mark in league play.

Sophomore Seairra Barrett (Center Twp., Pa./Central Valley) led the team with 14 kills on a .357 hitting percentage. Senior Danielle Hayes (Erie, Pa./McDowell) tallied 13 kills and junior Ashley Leto (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) posted six kills in the loss. Senior Megan Litoborski (Lemont, Ill./Lemont) guided the offense with 35 assists against the Raiders.

Leto paced the team with 19 digs, while the trio of Hayes, Litoborski and sophomore Bayleana Sowers (Mt. Wolf, Pa./Northeastern) each collected 12 digs. Junior Taylor Solo (Irwin, Pa./Penn-Trafford) also added nine digs. Sophomore Tina Bellhy (McDonald, Pa./Fort Cherry) recorded six blocks and classmate Lois van Schaik (Naarden, Netherlands/St. Vituscollege) added four blocks at Shippensburg.

In the first set, the Vulcans opened the match by scoring the opening two points before racing out to a 10-3 lead on a kill by Hayes. Shippensburg responded with a 6-2 run to trim the lead to 12-9 before a kill by Leto. The Raiders won five of the next six points to pull within 15-14 before the Vulcans extended the lead to 18-15 following a kill by van Schaik. Shippensburg rallied for five-straight points to take a 20-18 lead before Cal U scored on an attacking error. The Raiders then took five of the final six points to earn a 25-20 victory.

Cal U once again controlled the second set early, racing out to a 7-3 lead on a service ace by Sowers. The Raiders scored four-unanswered points to tie the score at 7-7 before a service error gave Cal U an 8-7 advantage. The two teams each traded runs of back-to-back points with Cal U holding a 10-9 lead. The teams then traded points with Cal U taking a 15-14 lead before Shippensburg scored two-straight points to take the lead 16-15. The Vulcans won five of the next seven points to take a 20-18 advantage on a service error. The teams once again traded points to make it 22-20 in favor of Cal U before Shippensburg responded with three-unanswered points to take a 23-22 lead. Following a timeout, a kill from Hayes tied the score before the Raiders took four of the final six points to win the second set, 27-25.

The Vulcans held an early 3-2 lead in the third set before the Raiders scored eight-unanswered points to take a 10-3 lead. Cal U won three of the next four points to cut the lead to 11-6 on a kill by Hayes. The Raiders countered with an 11-2 run to take a sizeable 22-8 advantage before a service error made the score 22-9. Two-unanswered points from Shippensburg made the score 24-9 before Cal U rallied off seven-straight points to trim the deficit to 24-16 on a kill from Hayes. The Raiders won the next point to earn a 25-16 win.

Cal U returns to action on Tuesday, Nov. 8, as it opens the final week of the regular season by facing Seton Hill in the Convocation Center at 7 p.m.