ERIE, Pa. (Oct. 6) – Behind a season-high .379 hitting percentage and 11 service aces, the Vulcans posted a 3-0 sweep (25-15, 25-22, 25-22) at Mercyhurst in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Crossover action on Saturday afternoon.
 
With the win, the California University of Pennsylvania volleyball team improves to 13-8 overall with a 6-3 mark in league play while remaining in a tie for first place in PSAC Southwest divisional standings. Meanwhile, the Lakers drop to 8-14 this season behind a 3-6 record in conference play.
 
Senior Lois van Schaik (Naarden, Netherlands/St. Vituscollege) led all players with 14 kills on a  staggering .500 hitting percentage and added four digs, while junior Rachel Priore (Bartlett, Ill./South Elgin) registered nine kills versus the Lakers. Senior Tina Bellhy (McDonald,Pa./Fort Cherry) and freshman Sarah Moehring (Palm City, Fla./Martin County) tallied seven and six kills, respectively. Freshman Sarah Benson (Canton, Ohio/Jackson) directed the offense with 35 assists and set a season high with six services aces.
 
Sophomore Jensen Silbaugh (Warren, Ohio/Lakeview) recorded 17 digs and notched double-digit digs for the sixth-straight match. Freshman Shelby Alloway (Dunkirk, Ohio/Hardin Northern) collected eight digs and four service aces, while Moehring and Benson both totaled seven digs. Senior Emily Bucklin (Marysville, Ohio/Marysville) and Benson controlled the net with two blocks each.
 
The Vulcans tallied 14 kills and a .480 hitting percentage to claim the first set by a 25-15 margin. Cal U opened the set with a 5-2 run before Mercyhurst closed the gap to 8-7 by scoring five of the next eight points. The match remained close before the Vulcans posted three-straight points to take a 14-10 advantage. Following a Mercyhurst timeout, Cal U went on a 6-3 run to take a comfortable 20-13 lead before scoring five of the next seven points to take the first set, 25-15.
 
The Lakers built a 4-0 lead before a 6-5 run put Mercyhurst ahead 10-5 in the second set. The Vulcans registered five-unanswered points to trim the deficit to 10-9 and forced a timeout by the Lakers. Both teams exchanged the next seven points before Cal U took its first lead of the set with four-consecutive points, 16-15. Mercyhurst quickly reclaimed the lead with a 3-1 run before four-straight points by the Vulcans put them back ahead by a 22-18 count. The Lakers cut the deficit to 22-21 with three-straight points before Cal U scored three of the next four points to secure the second set, 25-22.
 
Cal U completed the sweep with a 25-22 victory with 16 kills on a .293 clip in the third set. The Vulcans established an early 6-1 lead before the Lakers notched five-straight points by tie the match at 6-6. Cal U went on a 5-1 run to retake the lead at 11-7 before both teams traded the next four points. Mercyhurst closed the gap to 14-12 before Benson tallied three-consecutive service aces to put the Vulcans ahead by a 19-13 margin. The Lakers once again trimmed the deficit to 19-18 after a 5-0 run to force a Cal U timeout. Mercyhurst tallied three of the next four point sto claim its first lead 21-20 before the Vulcans posted a 5-1 run to seal the match victory, 25-22.
 
Cal U returns to action, Friday, Oct. 12, as it travels to face Clarion in PSAC Southwest play at 7 p.m.