CALIFORNIA (Nov. 1) – Despite posting one of its top hitting percentages of the season, the California (PA) volleyball team suffered a 3-1 loss (25-22, 25-21, 18-25, 25-17) against Seton Hill on Senior Day in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play on Tuesday night at the Convocation Center.

With the loss, the Vulcans fall to 12-12 overall with a 6-9 mark in conference action. Meanwhile, the Griffins improve to 16-11 this season behind a 6-9 record in divisional competition.

Freshman Elisa Rugiero (Vicenza, Italy/Farina Vicenza) paced the team with a season-high 18 kills while hitting at a .385 clip. Freshman Oliwia Suboczewska (Wroclaw, Poland/SMW Wroclaw) tallied a kill/dig double-double with 10 kills and 11 digs on Tuesday. Freshman Adrianna Favata (Peoria, Ariz./Liberty) notched a season-high 28 assists, while classmate Ashley Barnes (Crofton, Md./Arundel) posted 22 assists versus the Griffins. Senior Kaylin Burkey (Boardman, Ohio/Boardman) led the team with three service aces.

Junior Alayja Floyd (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington Central) controlled the net with three blocks. Junior Emily Buwawa (Uniontown, Pa./Laurel Highlands) totaled a team-leading 16 digs, while senior libero Kelly Lynch (Broadview Heights, Ohio/Holy Name) registered 13 digs.

Seton Hill jumped out to an early 7-2 lead following a bad set fom Cal. The Vulcans trimmed the deficit to an 8-7 margin after winning five of the next six points and eventually tied the set at 13-13 on a kill from Suboczewska. The teams traded the next eight points as the score remained deadlocked at 17-17 until the Griffins rattled off four-consecutive points to grasp a 21-17 edge. Cal countered with four-straight points of its own to tie the set 21-21 on a service ace by Burkey. Seton Hill completed the first set on a 4-1 run to claim a 25-22 victory.

The Vulcans and the Griffins split the opening six points in the second followed by a 4-2 run by Cal to obtain a 7-5 advantage. The teams continued a back-and-forth battle as they traded the next 16 points and the Vulcans still held a 15-12 lead on block. Seton Hill executed a massive 12-3 run to pin Cal against set point with a 24-18 advantage. The Vulcans fought back with three-consecutive points, however, the Griffins eventually posted a 25-21 win in the second set.

Cal grabbed a 6-3 lead in the third set after a pair of kills from sophomore Allie Droneberger (North Beach, Md./Northern), who finished with nine kills. Seton Hill countered with three of the next four points to trim the deficit to a 7-6 margin, however, the Vulcans extended their lead to 13-9 on a kill by Rugiero causing a Griffin timeout. After the timeout, Cal built an 18-11 lead after orchestrating a 5-2 run. Seton Hill cut the deficit to 22-18 after executing a 7-4 rally before the Vulcans answered with a pair of points to put the Griffins against set point. Seton Hill tallied three-straight points, however, Cal took the third set by a 25-18 margin after a kill from Rugiero.

In the fourth set, the teams were tied at 3-3 until the Griffins scored four-consecutive points to take a 7-3 lead causing a Vulcan timeout. Seton Hill mounted momentum as it extended its lead to 11-4 with a 4-1 run leading to another Cal timeout. The Griffins kept applying pressure as they claimed a 10-point advantage after scoring five of the next seven points. The Vulcans trimmed the deficit in half with a 7-2 run that was capped by a kill from Rugiero. The Griffins countered with a 6-1 run to pin the Vulcans against match point. Cal scored three-straight points to cut it to a 24-17 deficit until a kill secured Seton Hill a 25-17 set victory and a 3-1 match win.

The Vulcans return to action on Friday, Nov. 4, as they travel to face Slippery Rock in league play for the final match of the regular season at 7 p.m.