WEST CHESTER, Pa. - The Kutztown University women's volleyball team finished its 2016 season on Saturday afternoon, falling at West Chester in straight sets (19-25, 18-25, 17-25) inside Hollinger Fieldhouse.
 
The Golden Bears started off the match on a strong note, taking a 17-13 lead over West Chester in the first set. KU and West Chester battled back-and-forth for the next several points before the Golden Rams captured the final four points.
 
KU fought hard in both the second and third sets as well, but West Chester was able to gain momentum in the middle of both sets, propelling it to victory.
 
Sophomore Brittney Moyer led the Golden Bears with a team-high 12 kills. She also added eight digs and a team-high two service aces. Moyer concluded her first season at KU with a team-high 398 kills (seventh all-time) and 312 digs.
 
Senior Anna Conti (Grove City, Ohio/Grove City) posted a team-high 12 assists and 12 digs for the Golden Bears on Saturday. For the season, she recorded 824 assists and 236 digs. She wrapped up her stellar Golden Bear career with 3,255 assists (second all-time) and 1,123 digs (seventh).
 
Fellow senior Madison Brake (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Bishop Hartley) also played in her final contest as a Golden Bears and led the team with 17 digs. She recorded 444 this year, the fourth season in a row with at least 390, and posted 1,744 in her career (second all-time).
 
Niki Carpenter (King of Prussia, Pa./Upper Merion Area) tied her career-high with seven total blocks on Saturday, while also adding four kills. Senior Zandria Zielinski (York, Pa./York Catholic) and freshman Taylor Brown (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern) also contributed with four kills each. Zielinski capped off her KU career with 444 kills and 286 total blocks (10th all-time).
 
Seniors Tori Wakelee (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown East) and Rachael Picozzi (Collegeville, Pa./Methacton) each recorded three kills. Wakelee also added five digs. Wakelee ended her KU career with 264 kills and 517 digs, while Picozzi had 25 kills during her three years with the Golden Bears.
 
Karleigh Lutz posted a match-high 16 kills for the Golden Rams, while Victoria Cruciani pitched in with 10. Jillian Grammer recorded 45 assists in the win and Nicki Yates had a match-high 23 digs.
 
The Golden Bears will now look forward to the 2017 season as it is expected to have nine returners from this year's squad.