SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. (Oct. 6) – The Vulcans extended their winning streak to six matches on Friday night by claiming a 3-1 win (23-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-20) at Slippery Rock in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Crossover play.

With the victory, the California University of Pennsylvania volleyball team improves to 11-5 overall and 5-0 in league action. Meanwhile, The Rock falls to 8-9 this season and 0-5 in conference play.

Sophomore Rachel Priore (Bartlett, Ill./South Elgin) recorded her fourth 20-kill match of the season, as she finished with 20 kills on a .235 hitting percentage. She also set a career high with eight blocks and tallied 16 digs for her third kill/dig double-double of the year. Senior Lois van Schaik (Naarden, Netherlands/St. Vituscollege) collected 13 kills while hitting at a .345 clip and added a pair of blocks.

Sophomore Samantha Raidt (Williamsport, Md./Williamsport) and senior Taylor Solo (Irwin, Pa./Penn-Trafford) guided the offense with 21 and 20 assists, respectively, on Friday. Freshman Jensen Silbaugh (Warren, Ohio/Lakeview) totaled 26 digs for her fifth match with at least 25 digs this season. Junior Marisa Fanelli (Ashburn, Va./Broad Run) added 10 digs and senior Ashley Leto (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) posted nine digs against The Rock. Junior Halle Murdock (Shrewsbury, Pa./Susquehannock) established a career high with nine blocks in the victory.

Early in the first set, the Vulcans won four-straight points to take a 4-1 lead on a solo block by Priore before The Rock countered with an 8-3 run to take a 9-7 lead. Following a service error, Slippery Rock won six of eight points to stretch the lead to 15-10 before Cal U responded with an 8-3 run to tie the score at 18-18 on a service ace by Fanelli. The Rock then called a timeout before winning the next four points to take a 22-18 lead. Cal U won five of seven points to trim the deficit to 24-23 on a kill by Priore before Slippery Rock won the next point to take a 25-23 victory in the set.

Cal U evened the match score by posting a 25-23 win in the second set on Friday. The Vulcans won four of five points early in the set to take a 6-4 lead on a kill by van Schaik. Slippery Rock later rallied off five-unanswered points to take an 11-9 lead before Cal U countered by winning five of six points to reclaim the lead at 14-12 on another solo block by Priore. The Vulcans would stretch their lead to 20-15 on a block assist by Murdock and Priore to cap a run of four-straight points. The Rock answered with three-consecutive points before the Vulcans forced set point at 24-18. Slippery Rock then countered with five-unanswered points before the set ended on a kill by freshman Maddie McGee (New Concord, Ohio/John Glenn), 25-23.

The Vulcans recorded 15 kills and a .227 hitting percentage while earning a 25-22 victory in the third set. Slippery Rock raced out to a 7-1 lead in the set before Cal U called its initial timeout. The Vulcans worked the deficit down to 11-8 before winning nine of 10 points to seize a 17-13 lead on a kill by Murdock. Slippery Rock cut the lead down 19-17 before Cal U eventually posted a 25-22 win on a kill by Priore.

Cal U committed just four attacking errors and hit at a .303 clip in the fifth set, which featured 10 ties, to complete the match victory. The teams traded the opening seven points before the Vulcans mounted a 7-3 run to take a 10-7 lead before The Rock called timeout. Slippery Rock then won five of seven points to tie the score at 13-13. Cal U later won three-straight points to take an 18-15 lead on a service ace by Fanelli and would take a 20-17 lead on a kill by Raidt. After The Rock won two of the next three points, the Vulcans closed the match on a 4-1 run with Murdock and Priore recording the last point on a block assist.

The Vulcans continue their weekend road trip tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 7, when they travel to face Edinboro in league crossover play at 1 p.m.