KUTZTOWN, Pa. – In a matchup between Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) foes, the Kutztown University women's volleyball team was defeated by the Shippensburg University Raiders (18-25, 25-22, 15-25, 20-15) on Saturday afternoon.
 
KU racked up four kills in its first five tallies to go ahead early in the opening set, 5-4. The Raider offense responded with an 7-3 to take an 11-7, prompting a timeout from Head Coach John Gump.
 
Following the break in action, both sides traded points as the set progressed, but the Golden Bears brought deficit to two late, trailing 18-16 following a kill from Brittney Moyer (Orwigsburg, Pa./Blue Mountain (Lock Haven)). With Kutztown threatening, Shippensburg ran off the next five tallies and seven of the last nine to complete the set one victory, 25-18.
 
Tied at 12-12, KU took advantage of a string of Raider errors to open a 17-13 advantage. However, the Raiders stormed back quickly at this juncture, ripping off five straight tallies to go back in front, 18-17.
 
The critical run for the Maroon and Gold occurred at this point, as a four-point string capped by back-to-back kills from Abby Daniels (Exton, Pa./Great Valley) put Kutztown ahead, 21-18.
 
The second set was as back-and-forth as can be with ten tie scores and six lead changes in the frame, but the Golden Bears finished it off with a kill from Jessica Howe (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg Area) to win 25-22 and even the match at 1-1.
 
To open the third set, Shippensburg jumped out to a commanding 7-3 lead. Despite even play for much of the remainder of the frame, this margin proved the difference in the third set as the Raiders finished it off, 25-15, taking a 2-1 lead in the match.
 
After dropping the third set in convincing fashion, KU kept pace in the fourth set, tying the frame at 13-all on a kill from Holly Owen (Hatboro, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham). Leading just 15-14 after a Daniels kill, Shippensburg scored seven of the next ten points to go on top, 22-17. Both teams traded points to the finish of the final set, but the Raiders came out victorious in the frame, 25-20, and the match, 3-1.
 
Daniels, Howe and Owen led the attack for the Kuztown offense, posting ten, nine and nine kills respectively. Abbey James (York, Pa./West York Area) delivered her second consecutive game with double-digit assists for the Maroon and Gold, posting 11 assists and 11 digs for her second career double-double.
 
On the defensive end, Sydney Wilson (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) continued her outstanding backcourt play with 34 digs and five assists in four sets. As a team, the Golden Bears out-blocked Shippensburg, 7-5, and registered 40 kills, hitting .114 in the match.
 
Kutztown will wrap up a stretch of five consecutive games on the road in PSAC competition against East Stroudsburg University on Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m.