Box Score Millersville 3, Kutztown 2 (HTML Box Score)
MILLERSVILLE, Pa. – The Kutztown University women's volleyball team went to five sets against Millersville University at Pucillo Gymnasium Saturday afternoon, before falling 3-2 in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division match.
The Golden Bears (12-18 overall, 6-13 PSAC) recouped after the initial first and second set losses, taking the third and fourth sets (27-25, 25-21) over the Marauders (16-13, 11-9 PSAC).
MU got out to an early 10-2 lead in the first set, but then relinquished the lead three times to the Golden Bears, before finally taking the set by four points, 25-21.
In the second set, KU stayed neck-in-neck with the Marauders, falling behind by four points at the most at 18-14, before coming back within three until ultimately falling 25-22
The Golden Bears refused to fall behind in the third set and kept the winning advantage until Millersville got ahead by one point at 25-24. KU's momentum did not fail, however, and it came back to take the set 27-25, breaking the 25-25 tie with a service ace by junior
Chelsea Braga (Long Beach, N.Y./Long Beach (Fairleigh Dickinson)), followed by a set-winning kill by freshman
Liama Goodrich (Birdsboro, PA/Daniel Boone).
The beginning of the fourth set seemed bleak for the Golden Bears, but they implemented a game-changer by taking the lead in the final five points. With Goodrich serving, KU was lifted to a three-point advantage at 23-20, and
Audrey Stringer (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) sealed the fate with a game-winning kill to take the set 25-21.
In the fifth and final set, KU maintained the lead and overcame three ties until MU took back the lead at 11-10. The Golden Bears met the Marauders two more times on the scoreboard, but ultimately fell 16-14.
Goodrich led KU's offense with a career-high 19 kills, tied for the most by a KU player this season. It also marks the most kills by a freshman since Kelsey Nester had 22 in 2007. Freshman setter
Anna Conti (Grove City, Ohio/Grove City) recorded a career-high 47 assists, moving her up to seventh in school history in single-season assists with 961. It also marks the most assists by a freshman since Jamie Celia had 54 in 2007. Braga and freshman
Madison Brake (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Bishop Hartley) hustled on the floor to reach 12 digs each.
The Golden Bears return to action Friday, Nov. 15, with home matches against Cheyney University at Keystone Arena beginning at 6 p.m., followed by a second match at 8 p.m.
