Box Score Wheeling Jesuit 3, Kutztown 0 (HTML Box Score)
WHEELING, W. Va. – Despite two season-high performances from freshmen on the front-line, the Kutztown University women's volleyball team was defeated 3-0 Friday night against host Wheeling Jesuit University.
Freshmen
Zandria Zielinski (York, Pa./York Catholic) and
Liama Goodrich (Birdsboro, PA/Daniel Boone) each tallied season-highs in blocks for the Golden Bears with six and five, respectively, but it was not enough to stop the consistent Cardinal attack.
KU (5-4) started strong with an
Anna Conti (Grove City, Ohio/Grove City) service ace, trading blows back-and-forth with the Cardinals (8-3) to a 4-4 tie. However, an upcoming series of errors put Kutztown behind, and it did not see another lead for the rest of the match. WJ took the first set 25-20.
Wheeling Jesuit took a commanding 10-2 lead to start the second set, riding the momentum to a 25-8 set victory.
The Cardinals yet again opened the next set with a 10-2 lead. Kutztown battled back but was not able to catch up, dropping the final set 25-19.
Sophomore
Audrey Stringer (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) led the Maroon and Gold with eight kills, receiving another five kills from Goodrich. Conti tallied 17 assists and six digs, while freshman
Madison Brake (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Bishop Hartley) led with eight digs.
Kutztown will continue play in the Wheeling Jesuit / West Liberty Co-Host Invitational Saturday, Sept. 21, with West Liberty now hosting the final day. KU will square off against Charleston at 12 p.m. and wrap up the weekend against West Liberty at 2 p.m.