SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Kutztown University women's volleyball team recorded 16 blocks in each of its two matches on Saturday, dropping a tight 3-1 contest to Shippensburg University, before defeating Chowan University 3-1 at Heiges Field House in Shippensburg.
 
The last time Kutztown (6-21, 3-12 PSAC) recorded more than 16 blocks in a single match was on Oct. 27, 2012 when it tallied 18 in five sets against Millersville.
 
In the opening match on Saturday, the Golden Bears won the first set against Shippensburg (20-7, 10-5) by a score of 25-20. However, KU was unable to keep momentum and saw the Raiders take the final three sets (25-23, 25-20, and 25-12).
 
The Golden Bears used an 8-0 in the middle of the first set to boost them past Shippensburg in the first set. In the second frame, KU was within one point of the lead on two occasions late, but could not capture a lead.
 
The Raiders scored five of the final six points in the third set after leading 20-19. SU used a 14-4 run in the fourth set to ultimately win the match.
 
Zandria Zielinski (York, Pa./York Catholic) equaled her career-high with a match-best seven blocks.
 
Senior Audrey Stringer (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) recorded a team-high 12 kills and also tallied six blocks and four digs.
 
Freshman Shannon Restrepo (Reading, Pa./Exeter Township) filled up the stat sheet once again with six kills, five blocks, 11 digs and 13 assists.
 
In Kutztown's second match of the day, it defeated Chowan (13-5) by set scores of 23-25, 25-21, 25-22, and 25-19.
 
In the opening set, Chowan led 22-14 but KU battled back to draw the score to 24-23 before ultimately falling short.
 
The Maroon and Gold trailed early again in the second set, but fought back to win. KU then carried momentum throughout the rest of the match to earn the victory.
 
Freshman Jessica Howe (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg Area) recorded a match and career-high 17 kills while also tallying seven digs and two blocks.
 
Stringer finished with 14 kills and five blocks. Niki Carpenter (King of Prussia, Pa./Upper Merion Area) totaled a career-best seven kills and contributed four blocks and four digs.
 
Lauren Szkolnicki (Springfield, Pa./Country Day School of the Sacred Heart) contributed six kills and six digs. Madison Brake (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Bishop Hartley) finished with a team-high 20 digs. She led a pack of four Golden Bears who recorded 13 or more digs in the match.
 
Up next, the Golden Bears travel to West Chester University on Friday, Oct. 30 to take on the Golden Rams at 7 p.m.