ERIE, Pa. (Nov. 13) – Closing out the regular season, the Vulcans dropped a 3-0 contest (25-18, 25-23, 25-19) against Gannon at the Hammermill Center on Saturday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play.

With the loss, the California University of Pennsylvania volleyball team closes the regular season with a 14-11 overall record and a 9-7 mark in conference play. Meanwhile, the Lady Knights finish the regular season with the most overall wins in the PSAC behind a 26-5 record and capture the top seed in the upcoming league tournament with a 13-3 mark in divisional action.

Senior Sarah Moehring (Palm City, Fla./Martin County) led the team with her eighth kill/dig double-double of the season, as she finished with 12 kills with a .324 hitting percentage and a team-high 13 digs. Sophomore Jaiden Armitage (Happy Valley, Ore./Clackamas) tallied seven kills in the loss. Senior setter Marley Goff (Geneva, Ohio/Geneva) collected 14 assists and classmate Sarah Benson (Canton, Ohio/Jackson) registered nine assists on Saturday.

In addition to Moehring, junior Kelly Lynch (Broadview Heights, Ohio/Holy Name) tallied nine digs in the loss. Sophomore Alayja Floyd (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington Central) controlled the net with five blocks, while senior Kiandria Cowart (East Liverpool,Ohio/East Liverpool) and junior Chelsea Howard (Atlanta, Ga./North Atlanta) each recorded three blocks.

Gannon used 14 kills and a .265 hitting percentage to win the first set by a 25-18 count. The Lady Knights opened the set by winning the initial six points before the teams traded the next eight points. The Vulcans responded by winning five of the next six points to cut the lead to 11-9 on service aces by junior Kaylin Burkey (Boardman, Ohio/Boardman) and a kill by Moehring. The Lady Knights countered with a 7-2 run to take an 18-11 advantage. Cal U then won three-consecutive points to cut the deficit to 18-14 on kills by Moehring and Floyd. Gannon responded with three-straight points before the teams traded the last eight points with Gannon claiming the first set, 25-18.

The Lady Knights hit a .268 clip in the second set behind 18 kills while posting a 25-23 victory. Gannon won five-straight points early in the set to take a 5-1 advantage. Cal U responded by winning five of the next eight points to cut the lead to 8-6. The teams traded the next four points before the Lady Knights won three-consecutive points to hold a 13-8 advantage. The Vulcans answered by winning six of the next eight points to cut the deficit to 15-14. Gannon countered with a 7-1 run to hold a 22-15 advantage. Cal U then won eight of the next 10 points to trail 24-23 and forced a Gannon timeout. The Lady Knights captured the final point and won the second set by a 25-23 count.

After four ties in the third set, Gannon was able to secure the match with a 25-19 win. The teams traded the initial four points before the Lady Knights won five of the next six points to take a 7-3 lead and forced a Cal U timeout. Out of the timeout, Gannon claimed four of the next seven points to hold an 11-6 advantage. The teams traded the next four points before the Vulcans responded by winning four-consecutive points to cut the deficit to 13-12 on a service ace by Floyd and forced a Gannon timeout. The two teams traded the next 12 points before the Lady Knights went on a 6-1 run to capture the match victory, 25-19.

The Vulcans begin play in the PSAC Tournament on Tuesday, Nov. 16, when they return to Erie, Pennsylvania, to face Gannon in the quarterfinals at 7 p.m.