CALIFORNIA, Pa. (Aug. 26) – The California (PA) volleyball team began its season by splitting a pair of matches at the Vulcan Invitational on Friday afternoon at the Convocation Center, suffering a 3-1 loss to Frostburg State before earning a 3-1 victory over Lake Erie.
With the split, the Vulcans open the year with a 1-1 mark while playing a pair of teams from different leagues.
Against the Storm, California posted a 3-1 win (21-25, 25-14, 25-22, 25-18) while hitting at a .237 clip and collected 14 service aces. Senior
Kaylin Burkey (Boardman, Ohio/Boardman) recorded a team-high 13 kills on a .303 hitting percentage, while freshmen
Oliwia Suboczewska (Wroclaw, Poland/SMW Wroclaw) totaled 12 kills on 33 attempts. Suboczewska also recorded a team-leading six service aces in the victory. Freshman
Ashley Barnes (Crofton, Md./Arundel) directed the offense with 23 assists and classmate
Adrianna Favata (Peoria, Ariz./Liberty) posted 21 assists.
Senior
Kelly Lynch (Broadview Heights, Ohio/Holy Name) paced the team defensively with 20 digs, while Suboczewska and Favata both recorded double-doubles in the victory with 15 and 10 digs, respectively. Sophomores
Allie Droneberger (North Beach, Md./Northern) and
Sophia Johnson (Waynesboro, Pa./Waynesboro) controlled the net, as both players tallied four blocks.
Against the Bobcats (26-24, 21-25, 21-25, 22-25), the Vulcans were held to a .043 hitting percentage in the initial match of the invitational and used 14 players. Burkey again led the offense with 11 kills on 45 attempts and tallied six service aces. Junior
Alexa Malloy (Pittsburgh, Pa./Bishop Canevin) added nine kills, while senior
Chelsea Howard (Atlanta, Ga./North Atlanta) and Johnson both finished with six kills. Sophomore
Rachel Simon (Wheeling, W.Va./Wheeling Park) guided the offense with 26 assists in the loss.
Defensively, Lynch anchored the team with 17 digs and freshman
Tayla Pascoe (Stockdale, Pa./California) tallied 10 digs in her college debut. Johnson registered a combined four blocks in the contest.
Cal returns to the court tomorrow, Saturday, Aug. 27, when it hosts Bloomsburg on the final day of the Vulcan Invitational at approximately 4 p.m.
