ERIE, Pa. (Oct. 29) – The Vulcans rallied from a two-set deficit to earn a 3-2 victory (24-26, 19-25, 25-23, 25-14, 15-11) at Mercyhurst in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West competition on Saturday afternoon.

With the win, the California (PA) volleyball team improves to 12-11 overall with a 6-8 conference record. Meanwhile, the Lakers drop to 3-20 this season while holding a 1-13 mark in league action.

Freshman Elisa Rugiero (Vicenza, Italy/Farina Vicenza) paced the team with 12 kills while hitting at a .250 clip. Senior Kaylin Burkey (Boardman, Ohio/Boardman) recorded a double-double with 10 kills and 10 digs, in addition to leading the team with four service aces. Classmate Chelsea Howard (Atlanta, Ga./North Atlanta) registered eight kills and posted a .263 hitting percentage in the win. Freshman Adrianna Favata (Peoria, Ariz./Liberty) set a season high with 26 assists and freshman Ashley Barnes (Crofton, Md./Arundel) added nine assists.

Junior Emily Buwawa (Uniontown, Pa./Laurel Highlands) led the team with 12 digs and Favata and Buckey each collected 10 digs. Burkey controlled the net with five blocks and Howard tallied four blocks in the match.

Mercyhurst jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first set until the Cal answered back to tie the set at 3-3. The Vulcans seized momentum as they later claimed a 9-7 lead. The Lakers countered with an 8-3 run as they regained the lead by a 15-12 margin causing a Cal timeout. Following the timeout and surrendering a pair of points, the Vulcans scored four-straight points to cut the deficit to 17-16. The Vulcans were able to take a 20-18 lead after conducting a 4-1 run. The Lakers countered with a 6-3 rally that put Cal against set point, 24-23, and eventually won the set by a 26-24 margin after scoring three of the next four points.

Mercyhurst found itself in the lead again by a 5-3 margin in the second set until the Vulcans executed a 4-0 run to grasp a 7-5 advantage. The Lakers were able to tie the set at 11-11 and eventually regained the lead following eight-consecutive points. Cal cut into the deficit by scoring four of the next five points and trailed by a score of 20-15. The teams split the next eight points and Mercyhurst later claimed a 25-19 win.

In the third set, the Vulcans led by a 5-3 margin following a kill from Burkey while the Lakers tied the set at 6-6 in the next four points. Mercyhurst mounted momentum as it orchestrated a 5-1 run to obtain an 11-7 lead causing a Cal timeout. After the timeout, the Vulcans scored five of the next six points and tied the set at 12-12 and eventually regained the lead by a 17-16 margin following an attacking error from the Lakers. The teams continued to go back-and-forth with neither conducting any runs, as Mercyhurst held a slight 21-20 edge. Cal put the Lakers against set point with a 24-22 lead after scoring four of the next five points and won the third set, 25-23.

The Vulcans registered six-unanswered points to gain a 9-3 advantage in the fourth set and extended their lead to a 13-5 margin following a kill from freshman Oliwia Suboczewska (Wroclaw, Poland/SMW Wroclaw). Cal advanced its lead to double figures after an attacking error from the Lakers and the Vulcans led 19-7 to force a Mercyhurst timeout. After the timeout, the Lakers trimmed the deficit to 21-12, however, Cal went on to score four of the final six points to take the fourth set by a 25-14 count.

During the fifth set, the Vulcans build a 6-4 edge following a kill from junior Alayja Floyd (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington Central). The Lakers were able to regain the lead by a 7-6 margin after a pair of attacking errors from Cal. The teams continued to answer each other as the score was tied at 10-10 until the Vulcans finished the set with a 15-11 victory to complete the comeback win.

The Vulcans return to action on Tuesday, Nov. 1, as they host Seton Hill on Senior Day in league play at 7 p.m.