Box Score West Chester 3, Kutztown 2 (HTML Box Score)
WEST CHESTER, Pa. – The Kutztown University women's volleyball team went to five sets for the third straight match on Friday night, but was unable to find the win column as it dropped a 3-2 decision at West Chester University in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division matchup at Hollinger Fieldhouse.
Playing to five sets has been nothing new for the Golden Bears (10-15, 4-10 PSAC). Friday marked the fourth time in the last six matches Kutztown has played a decisive fifth set against its opponent; however, Friday's road match at West Chester (12-12, 4-10) fell into the hands of the opponent once again.
With Kutztown leading 2-1 in the match, the fourth set was playing tight. Following a Kutztown kill to bring the West Chester lead to 13-11, the Golden Rams went on a 6-0 run to open the set at 19-11. Kutztown scored six of the next eight points (21-17), but West Chester closed out to win 25-18 and force a decisive final set.
The Golden Bears trailed from the opening point of the final set. Three players drove home kills for KU in the set as it wound up on the wrong side of a 15-10 final score.
Sophomore outside hitter
Audrey Stringer (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) led the attack with 16 kills and an impressive .452 hitting percentage. It is the third straight match and fifth time in the last seven matches she has posted double-digit kills for the Golden Bears. Defensively, she teamed with senior middle hitter
Nicole Brumbley (Oxford, PA/Oxford) to post six total blocks apiece.
As a team, Kutztown posted 12 total blocks, tied for third-most of the season.
Freshman
Liama Goodrich (Birdsboro, PA/Daniel Boone) posted double figures in kills for the fourth time in the last sixth matches with 12 on Friday. She contributed four blocks and has continued to grow as a threat on the front line. Other leaders on offense were junior
Chelsea Braga (Long Beach, N.Y./Long Beach (Fairleigh Dickinson)) with seven kills, and fellow junior
Danielle Van Buren (Bethlehem, Pa./Saucon Valley) with six.
Freshman setter
Anna Conti (Grove City, Ohio/Grove City) dished out 34 of Kutztown's 40 assists. She has flourished in her first year in the Maroon and Gold. She has tallied 811 assists this year for 10th in school history for a single season and needs 10 to move into ninth.
West Chester had three players finish with double-digit kills. Julia O'Brien led the attack with 18 kills on 48 attacks with 10 errors. Marina Sharkey (12) and Samantha Agostini (10) rounded out the top trio on offense for the Golden Rams. Agostini also led the team with 25 assists.
Kutztown had its Saturday match at Cheyney University postponed and will have a rare Saturday off from competition. It aims to return to the win column next weekend as it travels to Pitt-Johnstown on Friday, Nov. 1, and Lock Haven on Saturday, Nov. 2 for a pair of PSAC East contests.
