Box Score Shippensburg 3, Kutztown 2 (HTML Box Score)
KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University women's volleyball team fell to visiting Shippensburg University in the fifth and deciding set Saturday afternoon at Keystone Arena during a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division matchup.
The Golden Bears (10-10, 4-5 PSAC) battled with Shippensburg (13-6, 6-3) all the way until the fifth set, before the Raiders closed out 15-10, taking the match by a score of 3-2.
The momentum in the first two sets switched back-and-forth fairly evenly, with both squads attacking aggressively. After 17 tie scores and nine lead changes, KU took the first set 25-21, while the Raiders grabbed the second set by the same score.
The third set was all in favor of Shippensburg, converting 36 of its attacks into 14 kills. KU recorded only five kills in the third, dropping the set 25-15.
After falling behind early in the fourth, KU regained its momentum as
Tori Wakelee (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown East) guided the Golden Bears back to an 8-8 tie. A late service run by
Morgynn McKenzie (Greencastle, PA/Greencastle-Antrim) presented the opportunity for Kutztown to seize the set and force a fifth, grabbing the win 25-19.
The wealth of the KU offense was evenly balanced in Saturday's defeat, with four different players recording eight kills or more. KU was led by
Danielle Van Buren (Bethlehem, Pa./Saucon Valley) with 11 kills and
Liama Goodrich (Birdsboro, PA/Daniel Boone) with 10 kills, while both grabbed two blocks apiece.
Audrey Stringer (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) was the most efficient attacker on the team, knocking down nine kills and leading the squad with six blocks.
Nicole Brumbley (Oxford, PA/Oxford) added eight kills and two blocks.
McKenzie led the team with five service aces, a personal-best for the freshman. Fellow rookie
Anna Conti (Grove City, Ohio/Grove City) tied her personal-best with four service aces, while tallying 34 assists and 14 digs.
Libero
Madison Brake (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Bishop Hartley) was the leader of the KU defense, hustling for 18 digs. Junior
Chelsea Braga (Long Beach, N.Y./Long Beach (Fairleigh Dickinson)) recorded 12 digs along with five kills.
Senior Jill Edwards was an all-around force for Shippensburg, knocking down 19 kills and 5 blocks, while co-leading the team with 18 digs. Taylor Gottshall led the team with six blocks and added 11 kills. Setter Maura Nolan recorded 41 assists, six digs, and three kills in the victory. Libero Maria Peluso grabbed 18 digs and served five aces.
The KU volleyball team will host five universities next weekend for a PSAC crossover tournament. Kutztown is scheduled against California (PA) and Seton Hill on Friday, Oct. 18, and will play Clarion and Indiana (PA) the following day, Saturday, Oct. 19.
