EAST STROUDSBURG, PA (October 29, 2011) – The Kutztown University women's volleyball team rebounded with a dominant straight-set victory over East Stroudsburg University Saturday afternoon in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division matchup.
 
With the win, the Golden Bears (22-7 overall, 11-6 PSAC East) clinch a second-place seed in the PSAC playoffs behind top-ranked Lock Haven.  This will be the third consecutive season Kutztown will make an appearance in the conference championships.  It is also ranked eighth in the latest NCAA Atlantic Regional rankings.
 
KU wasted no time responding to its tough setback Friday night against Lock Haven.  It took down the Warriors, 3-0, by scores of 25-12, 25-7, and 25-15.
 
Erin Kissling (York, PA/Central York) has grown into one of KU's strongest offensive leaders down the stretch this season.  The senior didn't skip a beat on Saturday, finishing with a team-high ten kills to go along with 14 digs.  Kissling now takes over the team-lead in kills with a career-high 225 on the season.
 
Fellow senior Cait Hess (Newark, DE/St. Mark's) is second on the team in kills with 223.  Hess had seven kills in Saturday's victory.  Junior setter Kimberlee Gomber (Washington, PA/Washington) turned in another great performance for the Golden Bears with 22 assists, her most in three games.
 
“This was a good bounce back for us today,” head women's volleyball coach John Gump said.  “I am very happy with the intensity and effort of our team.  We took control of the match early and never gave it back.”
 
Defensively, Katie Lutz (Greencastle, PA/Greencastle Antrim) has continued to make her presence known to opposing attackers.  She is one of the top blockers in the country and added eight blocks on Saturday.  Lutz has team-leading 110 total blocks this season after tallying 19 in her last two games.
 
Senior Lindsey Smith (Hanover, PA/Delone Catholic) picked up a team-high 17 digs in the victory.  She has 1,469 digs in her career and is fourth in KU history.  She is 11 behind Dani Witherite for third place.
 
Kutztown returns to action on Monday, Oct. 31 for a non-conference match against Holy Family University.  Game time in Philadelphia is set for 7 p.m.