CALIFORNIA (Oct. 23) – Despite junior Chelsea Howard (Atlanta, Ga./North Atlanta) recording a career-high 18.5 points, the California University of Pennsylvania volleyball team dropped a 3-1 contest (25-19, 22-25, 25-20, 25-23) against Edinboro at the Convocation Center on Saturday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play.

With the loss, the Vulcans drop to 9-10 this season behind a 4-6 mark in league play. Meanwhile, the Fighting Scots improve to 17-3 overall with a league-leading 9-1 mark in divisional play.

Senior Sarah Moehring (Palm City, Fla./Martin County) paced the team with 15 kills, while Howard set a season high with 14 kills on an impressive .346 hitting percentage. Sophomore Jaiden Armitage (Happy Valley, Ore./Clackamas) recorded eight kills against the Fighting Scots. Senior setters Marley Goff (Geneva, Ohio/Geneva) and Sarah Benson (Canton, Ohio/Jackson) guided the offense with a combined 44 assists with each totaling 22 assists on Saturday.

Moehring led the team with 16 digs for her sixth kill/dig double-double of the year, while junior libero Kelly Lynch (Broadview Heights, Ohio/Holy Name) added 14 digs and four service aces. Howard controlled the net for the Vulcans with five blocks (two solo).

After seven ties and two lead changes, the Fighting Scots took the opening set by a 25-19 count. The Vulcans jumped out to a 7-4 lead before the Fighting Scots scored three-straight points to tie the score at 7-7. Cal U scored two of the next three points before Edinboro rallied off four-straight points to take a 12-9 lead and forced a timeout. Out of the timeout, the Vulcans mounted a 4-1 run before the Fighting Scots rallied off four-consecutive points to hold a 17-13 lead and force another timeout. The teams traded the next nine points before Cal U scored back-to-back points on kills by Howard and senior Kiandria Cowart (East Liverpool, Ohio/East Liverpool) to cut the deficit to 22-19 and forced a timeout. Edinboro tallied the final three points to take the set by a 25-19 margin.

The Vulcans evened the match by winning the second set by a 25-22 count behind 15 kills. Cal U jumped out to an early 7-3 lead before scoring four-straight points to take a commanding 11-4 lead. Edinboro mounted a 9-1 run to take a 13-12 lead before the Vulcans countered with four-straight points to hold a 16-13 lead and forced a timeout. The teams traded the next eight points, as Cal U maintained a 20-17 lead before the Fighting Scots scored five of the next eight points to cut the lead to 23-22. The Vulcans captured the final two points on kills by Armitage and Moehring to win the second set, 25-22.

Edinboro rallied to take a 2-1 match advantage with a 25-20 win behind a .219 hitting percentage in the third set. Cal U held an early 9-3 lead before the Fighting Scots won seven of the next eight points to cut the lead to 11-10 and forced a timeout. The Vulcans won four of the next six points before Edinboro won three-straight points to even the score at 15-15. Cal U captured three of the next four points before the Fighting Scots won three-straight points to take a 23-19 lead and forced a timeout. Edinboro claimed two of the next three points to take the set by a count of 25-20.

Following 10 ties and seven lead changes, Edinboro was able to complete the march victory with a 25-23 win in the fourth set. The Vulcans held an 8-3 lead before the Fighting Scots tallied four-straight points to force a timeout. Out of the timeout, Edinboro won six of the next nine points to hold a 13-11 lead before the Vulcans rallied four-straight points to take a 15-13 lead. The two teams traded the next 10 points before Edinboro won three-straight points to take a 21-20 lead. Cal U won the next two points before the Fighting Scots closed on a 4-1 run to post the match victory, 25-23.

Cal U continues its homestand on Friday, Oct. 29, by hosting Seton Hill in divisional action at 6 p.m.