URBANA, Ohio (Sept. 16) – The California University of Pennsylvania volleyball team split a pair of matches to close play at the Urbana Fall Invitational on Saturday, suffering a 3-0 loss to the host Blue Knights before claiming a 3-0 win against Roberts Wesleyan (N.Y.).

With the split, the Vulcans move to 6-5 this season after playing at three different invitationals – each in different states – over the opening three weeks of the season.

Against Roberts Wesleyan (0-11), the Vulcans recorded a staggering .506 hitting percentage in a 3-0 victory (25-5, 25-18, 25-23). Junior Tina Bellhy (McDonald, Pa./Fort Cherry) tallied 11 kills while hitting at an .846 clip and senior Ashley Leto (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) finished with eight kills on a .571 hitting percentage. Freshman Madeleine McKenna (Upper Arlington, Ohio/Upper Arlington) added seven kills, while junior Emily Bucklin (Marysville, Ohio/Marysville) and freshman Maddie McGee (New Concord, Ohio/John Glenn) both collected five kills. Senior Taylor Solo (Irwin, Pa./Penn-Trafford) guided the offense against the Redhawks with 31 assists on Saturday.

Freshman Jensen Silbaugh (Warren, Ohio/Lakeview) paced the defensive effort with 26 digs and Leto added 20 digs for her third 20-dig performance in the last four matches. McGee also collected 19 digs in the victory. Three different players registered two service aces in the final match of the weekend.

Against Urbana (4-7), Cal U dropped a 3-0 match (25-20, 25-23, 25-19) to the Blue Knights. Sophomore Rachel Priore (Bartlett, Ill./South Elgin) led the team with 13 kills on 39 attempts, while Leto finished with seven kills, nine digs and three blocks. Solo collected 26 assists against the Blue Knights in the losing effort. Silbaugh tallied a team-leading 10 digs and also added four service aces.

The Vulcans open Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) play on Friday, Sept. 22, when they travel to face West Chester at 7 p.m.