CALIFORNIA (Sept. 8) – The California University of Pennsylvania volleyball team closed out the Vulcan Invitational on Saturday with a 3-0 sweep versus West Virginia Wesleyan before suffering a 3-0 loss to No. 1 Nebraska-Kearney at the Convocation Center.
 
With the split, the Vulcans move to 7-5 overall after posting a 3-1 mark at their home invitational this weekend.
 
Against West Virginia Wesleyan (0-8), Cal U posted a 3-0 sweep (25-17, 25-10, 25-21) after hitting at a .231 clip in the initial two sets of the match. Junior Rachel Priore (Bartlett, Ill./South Elgin) led the team with eight kills, while senior Emily Bucklin (Marysville, Ohio/Marysville) tallied seven kills on a .385 hitting percentage. Senior Lois van Schaik (Naarden, Netherlands/St. Vituscollege) and freshman Sarah Moehring (Palm City, Fla./Martin County) posted six and five kills, respectively. Freshman Sarah Benson (Canton, Ohio/Jackson) directed the offense with 27 assists and totaled three service aces in the victory. 
 
Sophomore Jensen Silbaugh (Warren, Ohio/Lakeview) paced the team with 16 digs, while Priore posted 11 digs against the Bobcats. Moehring posted nine digs and freshman Shelby Alloway (Dunkirk, Ohio/Hardin Northern) tallied seven digs in the match. Cal U notched nine service aces with Benson and Moehring each totaling three aces. The net was controlled by Bucklin and Benson with five and four blocks, respectively.
 
Against top-ranked Nebraska-Kearney (12-0), the Vulcans fell in straight sets 3-0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-22) after facing an opponent ranked in the top 10 for the first time since 2014. Bucklin posted a team-high 11 kills on a .408 clip and van Schaik notched nine kills in the loss. Benson posted an assist/dig double-double, her fourth of the season, after recording 29 assists and 11 digs.
 
Silbaugh paced the team with 15 digs against the Lopers, while Priore and Moehring each posted 11 digs. van Schaik led the defensive effort with three blocks and sophomore Madison Kline (Hastings, Pa./Cambria Heights) added two blocks on Saturday.
 
Cal U opens Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) action on Friday, Sept. 14, when it hosts Lock Haven at the Convocation Center, starting at 6 p.m.