Photo Gallery vs. SNH

KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University women's volleyball team opened Saturday morning with a three-set loss to the Southern New Hampshire University Penmen and finished the afternoon with a four-set loss to the Philadelphia University Rams at its annual home tournament, the Kutztown Classic, inside Keystone Arena.
 
In the first match of the day, SNHU came out of the gate strong, taking a 10-2 lead over Kutztown in the first set. KU rallied to cut the deficit down to 13-9, but the Penmen followed with an 8-2 run to widen the lead to 21-11. SNHU took the first set over KU 25-15.
 
The Golden Bears (1-5) started off slow again in the second set, but remained within reach. They trailed 10-4 and 17-12 in the set, but rattled off a 10-3 run to take a 22-20 lead. Kutztown failed to secure the second set, allowing SNHU to take the final five points.
 
Kutztown played an improved third set, but ultimately dropped it in a 25-21 defeat. It was a back-and-forth battle, with four ties and two lead changes. KU trailed 23-16, but rallied back to get the score to 23-21. SNHU finished the set strong, securing the final two points of the set and the match.
 
Senior Audrey Stringer (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) led Kutztown with nine kills while also recording two blocks. Junior Lauren Szkolnicki (Springfield, Pa./Country Day School of the Sacred Heart) and freshman Shannon Restrepo (Reading, Pa./Exeter Township) each recorded seven kills for the Golden Bears. Restrepo also contributed with 13 assists and four blocks.
 
Junior Zandria Zielinski (York, Pa./York Catholic) recorded five kills and a career-high seven blocks in the match. Anna Conti (Grove City, Ohio/Grove City) chipped in with 13 assists and six digs, while fellow junior Madison Brake (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Bishop Hartley) contributed with 15 digs.
 
Victoria Wehrmann led SNHU with a match-high 14 kills. Marisa Coronis recorded 11 kills, while Megan Salamun had eight. Nina McGouldrick and Maeghan Higgins each had 12 digs for the Penmen. Catherine Cotton recorded an impressive 37 assists in the match.
 
Kutztown's final match of the Kutztown Classic got off to a great start, with the first set going into overtime and a 33-31 KU win. KU got the first set win after trailing 8-3 and 19-17 in the set. The teams went back-and-forth starting at 23-23, until KU finally pulled through at 33-31. The set included three lead changes and a whopping 12 ties.
 
The next three sets were all in favor of Philadelphia, as it defeated KU by scores of 25-13, 25-22 and 25-16. Philadelphia sprung out to 14-8 lead in the second set and then widened the lead to 24-11 before finishing off the set at 25-13.
 
Kutztown gave itself an opportunity in the third set with a 15-9 advantage halfway through the set. The Rams came fighting back quickly to tie it at 18 all, and finished off the set strong with a 25-22 final.
 
The fourth set was all Philadelphia, as it jumped out to an 8-4 advantage early and never looked back. Kutztown was in position to make a run when it was trailing 11-7, but Philadelphia took command the rest of the set and pushed its lead to 20-13. KU gave itself hope at the end, cutting the lead to 20-15, but Philadelphia won five of the final six points of the set and prevailed 25-15.
 
Szkolnicki led the Golden Bears with 10 kills in the match, while also contributing three blocks. Stringer and Zielinski each had eight kills for Kutztown. Stringer added five blocks in the match and Zielinski also chipped in with three.
 
Freshman Niki Carpenter (King of Prussia, Pa./Upper Merion Area) recorded a season-high five blocks in the contest. Restrepo dished out 18 assists and chipped in 13 digs, which tied her season-high. Conti contributed with 12 assists and five digs.
 
Philadelphia was led by Chelsea Hughes, who had a match-high 14 kills and a team-high four blocks. Courtney Wensel recorded 11 kills and eight digs, while Allison Manley recorded eight kills, five service aces and 21 digs. Nina Morvin led the Rams with 23 assists in the contest and Michele Chai chipped in with 20 digs.
 
Kutztown's next match will be on Friday, Sept. 18 at 11:30 a.m. against Shepherd University in the Atlantic Region Crossover held at West Liberty University.