SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. (Oct. 2) – Behind a combined 30 kills from junior Kaylin Burkey (Boardman, Ohio/Boardman) and senior Sarah Moehring (Palm City, Fla./Martin County), the California University of Pennsylvania volleyball team secured a 3-1 victory (25-16, 25-17, 22-25, 25-16) at Slippery Rock on Saturday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action at Morrow Field House.

With the win, the Vulcans improve to 7-6 this season with a 2-2 mark in divisional play. Cal U has won the last 25 meetings in the series dating back to the 2006 season. Meanwhile, the Rock falls to 4-12 overall with a 1-3 record in divisional action.

Burkey set a season high with 16 kills on a staggering .371 hitting percentage. She also recorded two service aces, three digs, and one block to finish the match with a team-leading and season-best 18.5 points. Moehring posted her second kill/dig double-double of the season, finishing with 14 kills on a .297 clip and 14 digs.

Junior Kelly Lynch (Broadview Heights, Ohio/Holy Name) matched her season high of 24 digs and added two service aces, while junior Chelsea Howard (Atlanta, Ga./North Atlanta) tied her season high with eight kills. Senior Marley Goff (Geneva, Ohio/Geneva) tied her career high with 27 assists, while senior Sarah Benson (Canton, Ohio/Jackson) carded 18 assists, nine digs and three service aces. Howard added four blocks, while sophomore Alayja Floyd (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington Central) and senior Kiandria Cowart (East Liverpool, Ohio/East Liverpool) both collected three blocks.

Cal U won the opening set by a 25-16 margin after recording a staggering .367 hitting percentage. The Vulcans won three-straight points twice to take an early 7-3 lead on a block by Cowart and Floyd. The Rock then claimed four of the next six points to force a Cal U timeout. Coming out of the timeout, Cal U would rally off seven of nine points to take a 16-9 lead before Slippery Rock would win the next three. The Vulcans seized control of the set as they won six of the next nine points to take as 22-16 lead before rallying off the final three points, 25-16.

The Vulcans captured set two by a 25-17 margin behind multiple big runs. Cal U opened the set by winning four of the initial five points to take an early 4-1. Slippery Rock would mount a 5-2 run to notch the score at 6-6 before the Vulcans won eight of nine points to take a 14-7 lead on a kill by Moehring. The teams traded the next 11 points, as Cal U held a 19-13 advantage before winning four of five points to lead 24-14. The Rock won the next three points before Howard sealed the set with a kill, 25-17.

The teams would combine for12 ties and four lead changes in the third set with Slippery Rock winning by a 25-22 margin. Cal U committed seven attacking errors in the set, as the teams traded the opening eight points. Neither team took command as they traded the next six points to tie the score at 7-7. Slippery Rock eventually won the four of six points to cut the Vulcans lead to 19-18. The Rock later won four-straight points to take the set, 25-22.

Cal U collected 18 kills on an impressive .366 clip in the fourth set to earn the match victory on Saturday. The Vulcans won four of five points to start the set on a kill by Burkey before Slippery Rock won four-straight points to take a 5-4 lead. Cal U eventually won four-straight points to take a 15-9 lead on a kill by Floyd. The teams traded the next eight points before the Vulcans won four-straight points to take a 24-14 lead. The Rock won the next two points before Cal U secured the victory, 25-16.

The Vulcans continue their road trip on Friday, Oct. 9, when they travel to face Pitt-Johnstown at 7 p.m.