JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (Oct. 27) – Despite tallying 15 blocks, the California University of Pennsylvania volleyball team dropped a 3-1 decision (25-21, 20-25, 25-15, 25-20) at Pitt-Johnstown in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Crossover action on Friday night.

With the loss, the Vulcans fall to 12-11 this season with a 6-6-mark in league play. Meanwhile, the Mountain Cats improve to 19-6 overall behind a 9-3 record in conference action. UPJ remains in second place in the PSAC Central and Cal U sits in fourth in Southwest standings.

Junior Lois van Schaik (Naarden, Netherlands/St. Vituscollege) registered nine kills on a .318 hitting percentage and sophomore Rachel Priore (Bartlett, Ill./South Elgin) also tallied nine kills on 42 attacks. Senior Ashley Leto (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) recorded seven kills in the match and added three service aces against UPJ. 

Sophomore Samantha Raidt (Williamsport, Md./Williamsport) and freshman Jensen Silbaugh (Warren, Ohio/Lakeview) both notched a team-high 12 digs in the contest and Leto posted eight digs. Junior Emily Bucklin (Marysville, Ohio/Marysville) registered a season-high eight blocks in four sets, while junior Tina Bellhy (McDonald, Pa./Fort Cherry) and van Schaik both totaled five blocks on Friday.

In the first set, the Vulcans claimed seven of the opening 10 points to take an early lead before the Mountain Cats rallied back to tie the match 11-11 with a 7-4 run. Cal U regained the lead at 14-13 on a service ace by Priore before UPJ rallied off four-unanswered points to take a 17-14 advantage. The teams traded the next four points before the Mountain Cats took four of next six points to extend their lead to 23-18. After three-consecutive attacking errors, UPJ took the first set on back-to-back points, 25-21.

The Vulcans earned a 25-20 victory in the second set that featured seven ties and three lead changes. The teams exchanged the initial eight points before Cal U tallied seven-unanswered points to take a 10-4 lead. Following a timeout, the Mountain Cats registered six of the next nine points before the Vulcans called a timeout. UPJ would claim its first lead at 16-15 after a 5-1 run before Cal U rallied off three-consecutive points, including a service ace by Bucklin. The Vulcans went on a 7-3 run to claim a victory in the second set and level the match, 25-20.

The Mountain Cats totaled 16 kills on a .382 hitting percentage to earn a 25-15 win in the third set. UPJ jumped out to a 7-4 lead before winning four of six points to extend its lead to 11-6. The Vulcans rallied the match back to 14-9 before a 3-1 run by the Mountain Cats forced a Cal U timeout. UPJ would extend its lead to 22-12 on three-consecutive kills before the teams traded the next five points. The Mountain Cats notched a kill to take a 2-1 match lead, 25-15.

Pitt-Johnstown completed the match victory with a 25-20 win after the Vulcans committed 11 attacking errors in the fourth set. The Mountain Cats took a 7-6 lead before extending their lead on a 3-1 run in the fourth set. Cal U then countered to tie the match at 10-10 until UPJ won five of nine points to claim a 15-14 lead. The Mountain Cats scored five-unanswered to extend their lead to 20-14 before the Vulcans rallied off two points to stay within striking distance. UPJ scored three-consecutive points before Cal U countered again with four-unanswered to cut the deficit to 23-20. The Mountain Cats posted back-to-back points to win the final set, 25-20.

Cal U returns to action tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 28, when it travels to face Lock Haven in PSAC Crossover play at 1 p.m.