KUTZTOWN, PA (September 18, 2010) – The Kutztown University volleyball team dropped a 3-0 decision to Gannon University Saturday afternoon in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) crossover match at Cheyney University's Cope Hall Saturday afternoon. (BOXSCORE)
The Golden Bears (8-3 overall, 0-3 PSAC) lost the first game, 25-21, before falling 25-14, 25-15 in the remaining two games. Katie Lutz (Greencastle, PA/Greencastle Antrim) led the Golden Bears with four kills and Jamie Celia (Douglassville, PA/Daniel Boone) added 11 digs. Brianna Risch (Coatesville, PA/Coatesville) had a pair of blocks. Lindsey Smith (Hanover, PA/Delone Catholic) added six digs for Kutztown.
While the Golden Bears endured a tough weekend, they will prepare to face Penn State-Berks in the annual Shannon Sullivan Memorial Game Monday evening at Pine Grove Middle School beginning at 7 p.m.
The match is a fund-raiser for the Shannon Sullivan Memorial Scholarship at both Kutztown University and Pine Grove High School, where Sullivan was an all-state performer.
Sullivan was a four-year letterwinner (2002-05) for the Golden Bear volleyball team, who died in a car accident in August of 2006. She ranks fifth all-time at KU in digs (976). Sullivan was the only player to be a part of Kutztown's first three Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division Championships (2002, 2003, 2005). Sullivan was named the 2005-06 Volleyball Coach's Award Winner, an honor given to a member of each team based on criteria selected by the coach.
“This is an important event for our team and program,” Kutztown head coach John Gump said. “Shannon personified the qualities we want in the student-athletes in our program and the scholarship is a tangible way to not only remember her but to honor those qualities. Shannon's impact on our program went far beyond what she achieved statistically. Everyone who came in contact with Shannon is better for having had her in their life. We all loved her and miss her
terribly.”
The Shannon Sullivan Memorial Scholarship has been established in Shannon's memory. The Shannon Sullivan Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to a member of the Kutztown University Women's Volleyball team who demonstrates the following characteristics passion for her sport, love for her teammates, commitment to academic achievement, integrity and strength of character.
Senior hitter Kelsey Nester (Catasauqua, PA/Catasauqua) is the 2010 recipient of the scholarship. Senior libero Jamie Celia (Douglassville, PA/Daniel Boone) (Douglasville/Daniel Boone) is the 2009 recipient of the scholarship. Senior outside hitter Lindsay Confer (Wingate, PA/Bald Eagle) (Wingate/Bald Eagle) was last year's recipient of the Sullivan scholarship. The 2007 recipient was libero Nicole Biuso.
--KU--
