ERIE, Pa. (Nov. 16) – The fourth-seeded California University of Pennsylvania volleyball team was eliminated from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament with a 3-0 loss (25-13, 25-9, 25-18) at top-seeded Gannon in the quarterfinals on Tuesday night.

With the loss, the Vulcans finish the year with a 14-12 overall record after qualifying for their eighth PSAC Tournament in the last 10-playing seasons. Meanwhile, the Lady Knights improve to 27-5 this season and advance to face second-seeded Shepherd in the semifinals of the league tournament on Friday, Nov. 19.

Sophomore Jaiden Armitage (Happy Valley, Ore./Clackamas) led the team with eight kills while posting a .263 hitting percentage. Seniors Sarah Moehring (Palm City, Fla./Martin County) and Kiandria Cowart (East Liverpool, Ohio/East Liverpool), plus junior Chelsea Howard (Atlanta, Ga./North Atlanta), each tallied four kills in the loss. Senior setter Sarah Benson (Canton, Ohio/Jackson) collected 11 assists and classmate Marley Goff (Geneva, Ohio/Geneva) registered 10 assists on Tuesday.

Junior Kelly Lynch (Broadview Heights, Ohio/Holy Name) paced the defensive effort with 16 digs, while junior Kaylin Burkey (Boardman, Ohio/Boardman) recorded eight digs in the loss. Moehing accounted for seven digs and Howard controlled the net with three blocks.

The Lady Knights used 16 kills and a .256 hitting percentage to capture the opening set by a 25-13 count. Gannon won six-consecutive points to take an early 8-2 lead. The Lady Knights later claimed four of the next five points to hold a 12-4 lead before the Vulcans countered with a 5-2 run to cut the deficit to 14-9 on kills by Armitage. The teams traded the next four points before Gannon responded by winning six of the next seven points to hold a 23-12 advantage. After a kill by Floyd, the Lady Knights won the final two points to take the first set, 25-13.

Gannon used three big runs and posted an impressive .400 hitting percentage to take the second set, 25-9. The teams traded the initial four points before the Lady Knights won seven of the next eight points to take a 9-3 lead and forced a timeout. Out of the timeout, Gannon went on a 6-1 run to hold a commanding 15-4 lead. Cal U responded by winning four of the next seven points to cut the deficit to 18-8 before the Lady Knights won six-consecutive points to take a 24-9 advantage. After a kill by Howard, Gannon captured the set by a 25-9 count.

After 11 ties in the third set, Gannon was able to secure the match with a 25-18 win. The teams traded the initial six points before the Lady Knights won three of the next four points to hold a 6-4 lead and forced a timeout. Cal U responded by winning three-consecutive points to take a 7-6 lead on a kill by Moehring. Gannon countered by winning six of the next eight points before the Vulcans won three-straight points to tie the score at 12-12 on a kill by Armitage. The two teams traded the next eight points before the Lady Knights put together a 6-1 run to take a 22-17 advantage and forced another timeout. After a kill by Moehring, Gannon captured the final three points to take the match victory, 25-18.