Box Score



Kutztown 3, Mercyhurst 1 (HTML Box Score)
 
ERIE, Pa. – A consistent all-around offensive attack was the key for the Kutztown University women's volleyball team as it defeated host Mercyhurst University 3-1 in Friday night's match to post a 2-0 record in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC).
 
The Golden Bears (8-5, 2-0 PSAC) had to fight their way out of an early deficit against a solid Mercyhurst squad (7-5, 1-1), just hours after they did the same against Slippery Rock. KU dropped the first two sets against The Rock before squeezing out the final three sets and the victory.
 
KU held a balanced attack with freshman Liama Goodrich (Birdsboro, PA/Daniel Boone) leading the team in kills with 11. Audrey Stringer (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) added nine kills and led the team with five blocks. Junior Chelsea Braga (Long Beach, N.Y./Long Beach (Fairleigh Dickinson)) posted a solid all-around effort for the match, recording nine kills and 14 digs. Freshman Morgynn McKenzie (Greencastle, PA/Greencastle-Antrim) picked up a team- and personal-high 18 digs to lead the defense. Setter Anna Conti (Grove City, Ohio/Grove City) dished out 38 assists while adding 11 digs in the effort.
 
KU dug itself a hole early in the first set, letting Mercyhurst grab eight of the first 10 points. The Golden Bears inched their way back to a 15-15 tie, trading point-for-point until securing a first-set victory that saw 12 tie scores and five different lead changes (27-25).
 
The second set was all Mercyhurst as KU was not able to take a lead. Committing a match-low four errors, the Lakers won 25-18.
 
Kutztown turned it back around in the third, taking the match lead with a 25-19 victory. The Maroon and Gold carried the momentum into the fourth and ultimately final set, forcing a Laker timeout at 5-0. KU continued to put the pressure on Mercyhurst, denying it the chance to catch up. Kutztown took the final set 25-21, and the match 3-1.
 
Kutztown will head down the road to Gannon University Saturday, Sept. 28 to compete in two more PSAC West cross-divisional matches starting at 12:30 p.m.