Box Score 1 | Box Score 2



CHEYNEY, Pa. – The Kutztown University women's volleyball team fell at the hands of Mercyhurst University and Gannon University Friday afternoon in two Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) crossover matchups from Cope Hall on the campus of Cheyney University.

The Lakers took the first match in three sets (25-16, 25-19, 30-28), while the Golden Knights acquired the second match in four (25-16, 23-25, 25-20, 25-17).
 
In the opening match against Mercyhurst (7-2, 2-0 PSAC), mid-set breakdowns were the Achilles heel for Kutztown (5-3, 0-2 PSAC) in the first two sets, giving up big runs to push the Lakers ahead. Down 9-17 in the second, KU rallied to bring it back within two (17-19), but it was too little too late.
 
Both squads battled tough in the third set, with either team able to secure any more than a four-point lead. The Golden Bears made the Lakers work for the final set, forcing extra points before falling 28-30.
 
The Maroon and Gold were able to snag a set off of an undefeated Gannon (9-0, 2-0 PSAC) squad in the second match. Kutztown grabbed the lead early in the second set and didn't give it up on its way to a 25-23 win.
 
Danielle Van Buren (Bethlehem, Pa./Saucon Valley) and Aly York (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone) led the way on the offensive side of the ball. Van Buren led the team in kills in both matches (10 & 12), while York ranked second on the team in both contests (9 & 11). York's 11 kills against Gannon is a career-high for the senior.
 
Audrey Stringer (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) finished with 12 kills on the day, Chelsea Braga (Long Beach, N.Y./Long Beach (Fairleigh Dickinson)) threw down 11, and Zandria Zielinski (York, Pa./York Catholic) finished with six.
 
After tallying just two blocks in the opening match, the Golden Bears stepped it up on the defensive front against Gannon. Stringer recorded the only solo block on the day and helped with three block assists. Van Buren and Zielinski recorded six block assists each, and Braga accounted for three.
 
Braga was also active on the back line, totaling 27 digs on the day. Kim Groff (Audubon, Pa./Methacton (Moravian)) recorded 11 digs in each match, and Carly Shortridge (West Chester, Pa./West Chester East) came up with 10 in the game against Gannon. Groff led the team with three service aces.
 
Setter Anna Conti (Grove City, Ohio/Grove City) dished out 45 assists and helped with 14 digs.
 
Kutztown will play two more PSAC crossover matches at Cope Hall tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 20. The Golden Bears face Slippery Rock University at 12:30 p.m. and Edinboro University at 3:30 p.m.