KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Senior Audrey Stringer (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) collected her 1,000th-career kill on Saturday, but the Kutztown University women's volleyball team was swept in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Crossover matches against Mercyhurst University and Gannon University held inside Keystone Arena.
 
Stringer reached the impressive milestone on the third point of the opening set of the day, as she entered the contest with 999 kills. Head coach John Gump called timeout and Stringer was recognized by the crowd and her teammates for her accomplishment. She is just the seventh player in KU history to reach 1,000 kills and has the sixth-most in school history (1,014).
 
Kutztown (5-19, 3-10 PSAC) held leads in all three sets in its morning match against Mercyhurst (13-11, 8-5), but was unable to emerge with a victory. Set scores for KU were 16-25, 20-25 and 20-25.
 
Freshman Jessica Howe (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg Area) had a team-high nine kills, while Anna Conti (Grove City, Ohio/Grove City) tallied 13 assists and 12 digs.
 
Tori Wakelee (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown East) and Stringer finished with six kills apiece.
 
In the nightcap, Gannon (18-4, 11-2) won by set scores of 25-13, 25-18 and 26-24.
 
The Golden Knights went on an 8-0 in the second set after it was tied 9-9, and used the momentum to win the set.
 
In the third and final frame Kutztown had its largest lead of the night when it led 17-12, however, Gannon battled back to win the set despite also trailing 24-22.
 
Stringer recorded a team-high nine kills and five blocks, while Madison Brake (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Bishop Hartley) led the Golden Bears with 15 digs.
 
Freshman Niki Carpenter (King of Prussia, Pa./Upper Merion Area) finished with four kills, six blocks and three digs.
 
Next up, KU travels to Millersville on Friday, Oct. 23 to take on the Marauders at 7 p.m.