Full Weekend Stats

KUTZTOWN, Pa. – After Friday night's five-set come-from-behind victory over Shepherd University, the Kutztown University women's volleyball team followed up with a split on Saturday, winning in four sets over Goldey-Beacom College and losing in four sets to Caldwell University, to finish its weekend as the host of the Kutztown Classic at 2-1. 
 
Opening play on the second day of competition, KU got off to a slow start in set one versus Goldey-Beacom, facing an early 12-6 deficit. Despite a couple pushes by the Golden Bears to get back into the frame, the Lightning kept Kutztown at bay, taking set one by a 25-21 score.
 
Set two proved to be the turning point in the match for KU as it got out to a 9-1 lead to begin the frame, prompting a Goldey-Beacom timeout. Kutztown continued to stretch this margin to the set's completion, winning the second frame handedly, 25-10.
 
The Golden Bears continued to ride their wave of momentum through set three, in which they did not trail for its entirety. A Lightning run brought the score as close as 12-11, but KU a 7-2 run of its own to get back ahead comfortably. Back-to-back kills from Brittney Moyer (Orwigsburg, Pa./Blue Mountain (Lock Haven)) and Jessica Howe (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg Area) put the exclamation point on Kutztown's third-set win, coming away with a 25-20 victory.
 
With both teams tied at 8-all in the fourth set, the Golden Bears used a six-point run to take a 14-8 lead. Madisyn Kleinfelter (Jonestown, Pa./Northern Lebanon) helped KU to increase its advantage moments later with back-to-back service aces, prompting a Lightning timeout with Kutztown ahead 17-10.
 
A late run from the GBC wasn't enough to overcome this deficit as a kill from Niki Carpenter (King of Prussia, Pa./Upper Merion Area) put the finishing touches on KU's second consecutive home-victory, defeating Goldey-Beacom in set four, 25-22, and winning the match, 3-1.
 
Four Kutztown attackers had at least eight kills in the match led by Moyer's 13, but it was Holly Owen (Hatboro, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) who delivered the standout performance.  Along with her eight kills, Owen had six blocks and a .375 attack percentage to lead KU in both categories. Sydney Wilson (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) continued to be the defensive anchor in the Golden Bear backcourt, racking up 25 digs in the match.
 
Kutztown had a long wait after its win over Goldey-Beacom before playing in the final match of the weekend, taking on Caldwell University to culminate play at the 2017 Kutztown Classic.
 
KU struggled offensively, especially in the opening set, hitting .000, but found itself trailing just 19-18 late in the frame. However, Caldwell found its form at this juncture, ripping off the final six tallies to drop the Golden Bears in the first set, 25-18.
 
A very competitive second set featured both teams trading points throughout with neither able to gain the upper hand until its finish. With the score 25-24 in the Cougars favor, KU fended off set point, firing off three straight tallies capped by a Jessica Howe (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg Area) kill to take the second set, 27-25, evening the match at 1-all.
 
Trailing 9-3 to open the third set, Kutztown showed its resiliency, scoring six unanswered points to bring the sides level at 9-9. A four-point Golden Bear run put KU ahead later in the frame, taking a 16-12 lead after an Alli Henderson (Boalsburg, Pa./State College Area) kill. Kutztown kept this advantage in hand nearing the set's completion, but a five-point Caldwell spurt, behind 23-20, doomed the Golden Bears in set three, as the Cougars claimed victory, 25-23.
 
Using its momentum from the late-set win, Caldwell jumped out to a 17-6 lead in the fourth, forcing a timeout from Head Coach John Gump. Again, KU showed its fight, following the break in action, chipping away at this margin to bring the deficit to two late in the set, trailing 22-20. However, Kutztown couldn't get any closer than this as the Cougars finished off the Golden Bears in set four, 25-22, winning the match by a 3-1 final.
 
Offensively, Henderson, Moyer and Owen posted double-digit kills with Owen leading the way among them with a .231 attack percentage. Carpenter delivered a solid performance in the middle, chipping in seven kills at an impressive .545 clip. Defensively, Wilson posted her second-consecutive game with at least 25 digs, racking up 26 in four sets. Kleinfelter and Amanda Meck (Fleetwood, Pa./Fleetwood Area) combined for 38 of KU's 42 total assists in the match.
 
KU will continue its home-stand next weekend, opening PSAC competition against Clarion on Friday Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. followed by a meeting with Indiana (PA) on Saturday Sept. 23 at 1 p.m., which will include Family Day festivities.