CALIFORNIA (Nov. 4) – The Vulcans closed out a weekend homestand with a 3-0 loss (27-25, 25-16, 31-29) against Millersville on Senior Day at the Convocation Center on Saturday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Crossover play.
 
With the loss, the California University of Pennsylvania volleyball drops to 14-12 overall behind an 8-7 record in league play. Meanwhile, the Marauders snapped a three-match losing streak to improve to 16-9 this season with a 7-8-mark in conference action. Millersville remains in third place in the PSAC Central, while Cal U continues to sit fourth in the Southwest divisional standings.
 
Senior Ashley Leto (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) led the team with 12 kills on a .258 hitting percentage and junior Lois van Schaik (Naarden, Netherlands/St. Vituscollege) added nine kills whilte hitting at a .200 clip. Sophomore Samantha Raidt (Williamsport, Md./Williamsport) and senior Taylor Solo (Irwin, Pa./Penn-Trafford) guided the offense with 19 and 11 assists, respectively, on Saturday.
 
Freshman Jensen Silbaugh (Warren, Ohio/Lakeview) directed the defensive effort with 13 digs. Raidt added 11 digs in the loss and Leto posted 10 digs to record her ninth kill/dig double-double of the year. Senior Halle Murdock (Shrewsbury, Pa./Susquehannock) secured the net with four blocks, while Leto and junior Emily Bucklin (Marysville, Ohio/Marysville) each totaled three blocks against the Marauders. 
 
In the first set, the Vulcans jumped out to a 7-3 lead to force the Marauders into an early timeout. Millersville responded with a 5-3 run to cut the deficit to 11-8 before Cal U stretched the lead to 15-10 on a block assist by Leto and Murdock. The Marauders then scored four-unanswered points to trim the lead to 15-14 before the Vulcans countered with a 3-1 run. Following a timeout, Millersville won three of the next four points and the teams would trade the next six points as Cal U led 22-21. The Marauders tied the match at 23-23 before the Vulcans reclaimed the lead 25-24 on a kill by Leto. Millersville countered with three-consecutive kills to take the opening set, 27-25.
 
Cal U managed just six kills in the second set, as Millersville took a 2-0 match lead. The Vulcans mounted an early 5-3 lead before the Marauders tied the match at 5-5 on a service ace. Cal U would reclaim the lead on a 6-1 run until Millersville posted four-unanswered points to cut the deficit to 11-10. The Marauders won five of the next eight points to take their first lead at 15-14 and later won three-consecutive points to force a Cal U timeout. Millersville closed out the second set with a 7-2 run capping the 25-16 win.
 
The Marauders completed the sweep on a 31-29 victory after the third set featured 12 ties and three lead changes. Cal U raced out to a 4-0 lead to force Millersville to take its first timeout. The match remained close until the Vulcans took a 16-14 lead and extended it on a 5-2 run late in the set. Millersville cut the deficit to 21-20 after four-consecutive points, forcing a Cal U timeout. The Marauders won six of nine points to take their first lead at 26-25 before the teams alternated the next five points. Cal U regained the lead at 29-28 following an attacking error before Millersville sealed the win on three-unanswered kills to earn the 31-29 victory.

Cal U returns to PSAC Southwest action on Tuesday, Nov. 7, when it travels to nearby Greensburg, Pennsylvania, to face Seton Hill at 7 p.m.