URBANA, Ohio (Sept. 15) – The Vulcans rallied from a 2-0 deficit to force a decisive fifth set on Friday afternoon before suffering a 3-2 loss to Lindenwood (Mo.) during the opening day of the Urbana Fall Invitational.

With the loss, the California University of Pennsylvania volleyball team drops to 5-4 overall while playing teams from eight different conferences over the initial three weeks of the season. Meanwhile, the Lions improve to 7-2 this season under first-year head coach Will Condon, who previously served as head coach at highly-successful Armstrong Atlantic (Ga.), which was consolidated into Georgia Southern this summer.

Senior Ashley Leto (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) and freshman Rachel Priore (Bartlett, Ill./South Elgin) each recorded kill/dig double-doubles in the losing effort. Priore tallied a match-high 19 kills on 62 attacks and set a career high with 11 digs against the Lions, while Leto posted 13 kills on 50 swings and matched her career high of 27 digs. Senior Taylor Solo (Irwin, Pa./Penn-Trafford) finished with her third-consecutive assist/dig double-double on Friday after registering 40 assists and 15 digs over five sets.

Freshman Jensen Silbaugh (Warren, Ohio/Lakeview) added 26 digs while in Ohio. The Vulcans combined for a season-high 15 blocks against Lindenwood with freshman Madeleine McKenna (Upper Arlington, Ohio/Upper Arlington) and junior Emily Bucklin (Marysville, Ohio/Marysville) both tallying seven blocks, while junior Tina Bellhy (McDonald, Pa./Fort Cherry) collected six blocks.

Cal U continues play at the Urbana Fall Invitational tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 16, with matches against the host Blue Knights and Roberts Wesleyan (N.Y.), starting at 1 p.m.