LOCK HAVEN, Pa. (Sept. 2) – Senior Danielle Hayes (Erie, Pa./McDowell) combined for 34 kills on Friday, as the Vulcans opened the year with a split of matches against Stonehill and Ashland at the Lock Haven Tournament.

Against the Skyhawks, Cal U earned a 3-1 victory (25-10, 25-19, 22-25, 25-22) after finishing with a .291 hitting percentage. Hayes tied her career high with 18 kills while hitting at a .325 clip. Sophomore Lois van Schaik (Naarden, Netherlands/St. Vituscollege) and freshman Rachel Priore (Bartlett, Ill./South Elgin) both finished with 10 kills and Priore registered a .471 hitting percentage in her college debut. Sophomore Tina Bellhy (McDonald, Pa./Fort Cherry) added seven kills in the victory, while senior Megan Litoborski (Lemont, Ill./Lemont) directed the offense in the season-opener with 39 assists.

Junior Emily Berry (Beaver, Pa./Beaver) paced the defense with 11 digs, while Hayes and sophomore Marisa Fanelli (Ashburn, Va./Broad Run) finished with nine and eight digs, respectively. Sophomore Halle Murdock (Shrewsbury, Pa./Susquehannock) tallied a team-high four blocks and van Schaik collected three blocks in the win.

Against the Eagles, Cal U suffered a 3-1 loss (25-16, 25-18, 23-25, 26-24) despite finishing with a combined 21 blocks. Hayes again led the offense by finishing with 16 kills on 48 attempts. van Schaik totaled nine kills on a .304 hitting percentage and sophomore Seairra Barrett (Center Twp., Pa./Central Valley) posted seven kills in the loss. Litoborski collected 28 assists versus Ashland.

Berry and sophomore Bayleana Sowers (Mt. Wolf, Pa./Northeastern) both led the team with 10 digs, while the trio of Fanelli, Hayes and Litboroski each collected eight digs. Hayes established a career high with seven blocks (two solo) and sophomore Emily Bucklin (Marysville, Ohio/Marysville) added five blocks in the losing effort.

Cal U returns to action tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 3, at the Lock Haven Tournament with matches against Shepherd and Charleston (W.Va.).