Box Score 1 | Box Score 2



Match 1: Lock Haven 3, Kutztown 1 (HTML Box Score)
Match 2: Kutztown 3, Daemen 2 (HTML Box Score)
 
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Just 16 hours after topping the defending conference champions, the Kutztown University women's volleyball team commenced play again. The Golden Bears first dropped a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) matchup to host Lock Haven University in four sets, before battling Daemen College to a five-set victory in the non-conference nightcap from the PSECU court at Thomas Fieldhouse.
 
Kutztown (7-6, 1-5 PSAC) was able to grab one set against Lock Haven (10-4, 4-2), but the Bald Eagles took the match in four (25-22, 25-18, 25-27, 25-18). KU rebounded in the second match of the day, but it wasn't easy against the Daemen Wildcats (29-27, 16-25, 26-24, 16-25, 15-10).
 
In the opening match against LHU, Chelsea Braga (Long Beach, N.Y./Long Beach (Fairleigh Dickinson)) and Audrey Stringer (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) led the attack with 12 kills each, while Stringer posted the best hitting percentage from either squad (.375). Danielle Van Buren (Bethlehem, Pa./Saucon Valley) threw down for nine kills, while Aly York (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone) and Cara Reilly (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) contributed six apiece.
 
Braga shared the lead of the defense with libero Madison Brake (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Bishop Hartley), as the duo recorded 18 digs each. Anna Conti (Grove City, Ohio/Grove City) ranked next with 12 digs, and tallied 38 assists from the setter position.
 
Zandria Zielinski (York, Pa./York Catholic) stood tall at the front line, leading the squad with four block assists. Van Buren, Stringer, and York combined for seven more. Braga, Brake, and Kim Groff (Audubon, Pa./Methacton (Moravian)) all notched a service ace.
 
Coach John Gump worked numerous Golden Bears into the lineup in the non-conference tilt against Daemen (0-14), but the match was all Van Buren. The senior, who led KU in kills in five-straight matches previous to Lock Haven, smashed a career-high 19 kills in the victory.
 
Freshman Cara Reilly (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) also recorded a career-high with 12 kills, while York and Stringer added nine each.
 
On defense, Kutztown produced a season-high 12.5 blocks (2 solo, 21 assisted). Zielinski was the force up front again, tying her career-high with six block assists.
 
Freshman Carly Shortridge (West Chester, Pa./West Chester East) led the way 16 digs, while Conti was next with 14. Conti set up 34 attacks for points, while Madisyn Kleinfelter (Jonestown, Pa./Northern Lebanon) recorded a personal-best 15 assists.
 
Reilly, Brake, and Emily Kopinski (Coopersburg, Pa./Southern Lehigh) all added a service ace.
 
The Maroon and Gold will return to action this Tuesday, Sept. 30 for a PSAC match at East Stroudsburg.