Friday at Millersville (Live Stats | Live Video)
Saturday at Shippensburg (Live Stats)
KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University women's volleyball program will square off with the Millersville University Marauders and the Shippensburg University Raiders in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) action this weekend. KU will play at Millersville on Friday, Oct. 6, at 7 p.m., and at Shippensburg on Saturday, Oct. 7, at 1 p.m.
Kutztown has faced some tough competition to open its 2017 PSAC slate, falling to southwest-division foes Indiana University (PA), California University (PA), Seton Hill University and Clarion University in its first four conference matches. Each of these opponents have a minimum of 10 wins on the season and sit at 3-1 or better in PSAC play.
In last weekend's matches versus Cal and Seton Hill, the freshmen combination of
Holly Owen (Hatboro, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) and
Sydney Wilson (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) delivered strong performances for the Maroon and Gold.
Owen led the Golden Bears in attacking percentage in each match, hitting .233 with nine kills against Cal and .250 with eight kills against Seton Hill. Wilson continued to anchor the KU defense, racking up 27 and 24 digs against Cal and SHU, respectively. Wilson's 5.31 digs per set currently ranks sixth in the PSAC.
KU (5-11 overall, 0-4 PSAC) hits the road for its second consecutive weekend, taking on the Marauders (9-3 overall, 2-2 PSAC) to open the weekend on Friday. Millersville salvaged a split in its matches last weekend, winning in five sets over Slippery Rock University and falling in three sets at Edinboro University.
The Marauders are led by the attacking duo of Erin Harman and Lindsey Blevins, whom have registered 3.67 and 3.54 kills per set, respectively. Both rank in the top-five in the PSAC in kills per set and will be players to focus on as the Golden Bears prepare for this match.
KU will be in search of its first win over Millersville since Oct. 11, 2013, when it swept the Marauders at home.
Kutztown will then do battle with Shippensburg (11-5 overall, 4-0 PSAC) to conclude the weekend slate on Saturday. The Raiders enter this contest riding a five-match winning streak and sporting an unblemished conference record, defeating Gannon University, Mercyhurst University, Edinboro and Slippery Rock thus far.
Shippensburg's offensive attack is facilitated by Emily Hangen, whose 10.57 assists per set rank second in the PSAC. As a team, the Raiders average 13.07 kills per set and are hitting .212 with 758 kills this season, which ranks third and fifth among PSAC teams, respectively.
Kutztown looks for its first victory over Shippensburg since the 2014 campaign, when it secured a 3-1 win over the Raiders on the road.
