MILLERSVILLE, Pa. – The Kutztown University women's volleyball team was defeated by Millersville University on Friday night in four sets inside Pucillo Gymnasium. The set scores for KU were 25-23, 23-25, 20-25 and 14-25.
 
The duration of the first set was competitive to the final point. Millersville (13-11, 4-10 PSAC) went on a 4-0 run following an 8-8 start to the set. Kutztown (5-20, 3-11 PSAC) struck back and evened the score at 23-23, with both teams looking for the first set victory. KU managed to secure the final two points and took the first set of the evening from the Marauders.
 
Kutztown got out to a strong start in the second set, leading Millersville by scores of 11-5 and 18-8. The Marauders battled back and went on a huge 14-3 spurt to tie the set at 21-21. Millersville took advantage of the momentum they gained and finished off the set, winning four of the final six points.
 
Millersville used the momentum at the end of the second set to race out to a 12-6 advantage over Kutztown in the third frame. KU could not overcome the early deficit and dropped the third set to the Marauders.
 
KU struggled out of the gate in the fourth set as well and couldn't overcome it. Millersville was up 13-4 early in the set and never looked back. Millersville ended the set on a 4-1 run and secured the final set of the match.
 
Senior Audrey Stringer (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) led the way for Kutztown with 10 kills and seven total blocks. She has recorded double-digit kills in 13 matches this season and 49 times in her illustrious career. Stringer also recorded five or more blocks for the 14th time this season and 38th time of her career. She now ranks fifth all-time in KU history with 1,024 career kills and sixth with 373 total blocks.
 
Tori Wakelee (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown East) contributed eight kills and 12 digs in the match. Freshman Shannon Restrepo (Reading, Pa./Exeter Township) once again showed her diverse skillset by recording five kills, eight digs, 18 assists and three blocks.
 
Madison Brake (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Bishop Hartley) led the Golden Bears in digs with 18. Junior Anna Conti (Grove City, Ohio/Grove City) recorded 14 assists and 12 digs in the match. Senior Emily Kopinski (Coopersburg, Pa./Southern Lehigh) chipped in with 12 digs, while freshman Niki Carpenter (King of Prussia, Pa./Upper Merion Area) had five total blocks.
 
Erin Harman paced Millersville with 16 kills, while Katie Witwer contributed with 13. Brooklyn Smith and Grace Dawson led the Marauders in digs with 24 and 22, respectively. Dawson also led Millersville in assists with a match-high 31.
 
Kutztown is back in action tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 24, to face off against two opponents. The Golden Bears take on Shippensburg University at 1 p.m. and Chowan University at 3:30 p.m. at Heiges Field House in Shippensburg.