EAST STROUDSBURG, PA (November 5, 2010) – The Kutztown University volleyball team defeated East Stroudsburg University, 3-0, in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division match Friday night at Koehler Fieldhouse.
With the victory, the Golden Bears reached the magical 20-win plateau for the first time since 2007 and clinched a home game in Tuesday's PSAC quarterfinal round against either West Chester or Shippensburg. Kutztown (20-9 overall) beat ESU, 25-19, in all three games.
Senior Jamie Celia (Douglassville, PA/Daniel Boone) can now officially be called the queen of service aces as she set the single-season record in that category. She has 62 service aces this season breaking Brandi Marshall's 1995 mark of 61. Celia became the all-time leader in service aces earlier this season on Sept. 10 against Post University. She has 212 career service aces. Celia also finished with 24 digs to lead Kutztown.
“To set the single season service ace record while winning our 20th match and earning a home game is really nice and it makes this accomplishment much more special,” Celia said. “It's awesome to get this record, but I am even more excited that we will have another home game. It was funny because not many people knew I was close to setting the record, so as soon as it happened, I just looked at my dad.”
Leading the Golden Bears was Cait Hess (Newark, DE/St. Mark's), who hammered home 11 kills. Katie Lutz (Greencastle, PA/Greencastle Antrim) had another strong performance finishing with six kills and four blocks. Erin Kissling (York, PA/Central York) contributed six kills and 13 digs. The sophomore setting tandem of Dana Wright (Warminster, PA/Saint Basil Academy) and Kimberlee Gomber (Washington, PA/Washington) combined for 31 assists. Wright had 17 assists.
“I am very happy for our players who created and took advantage of the opportunity to earn a home playoff match,” Kutztown volleyball head coach John Gump said.
The Golden Bears will open the PSAC playoffs at home for the second consecutive season. Ranked ninth in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region poll, the Golden Bears are still in the running to receive a bid to the NCAA tournament. That would be the perfect bookend to the sterling careers of seniors Lindsay Confer (Wingate, PA/Bald Eagle), Kelsey Nester (Catasauqua, PA/Catasauqua), Megan O'Connell (Horsham, PA/Hatboro- Horsham), Nora Alexander (Plymouth Meeting, PA/Plymouth-Whitemarsh), and Celia.
Kutztown finishes its 2010 regular season schedule by visiting Lock Haven Saturday morning starting at 11:00 a.m.
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