LOCK HAVEN, Pa. (Sept. 15) – After helping lead the program to its best start in over 15 years, California (PA) junior Sarah Stephenson was tabbed the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West Defensive Athlete of the Week on Monday afternoon.

Stephenson registered 1.22 blocks and 3.72 points per set over the weekend, as the Vulcans claimed three wins – all sweeps – at the Shannon Sullivan Memorial Tournament hosted by Kutztown. Cal has opened the year with a 6-0 record for the first time since the 2008 campaign after winning just three matches last fall. Stephenson registered five blocks and five kills on Friday in a 3-0 victory against Caldwell (NJ). The next morning, the Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, native collected 11 kills and two blocks in a 3-0 win over Bowie State. Stephenson finished the weekend with 12 kills and four blocks against the host Golden Bears in a 3-0 victory.

A 5-foot-10 junior, Stephenson is averaging 3.09 kills and 3.45 points per set this year after being limited to 13 matches last year due to injury. She is hitting at a staggering .356 clip after entering the year with a .122 hitting percentage in her career. Additionally, Stephenson has registered 14 total blocks in six matches this fall.

The Vulcans return to action tomorrow, Sept. 16, when they travel to face Point Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at 6 p.m. The Pioneers are in their second season competing as a NCAA Division II program in the Mountain East Conference (MEC).