KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University women's volleyball team was defeated by the California (PA) University Vulcans (23-25, 20-25, 22-25) in three back-and-forth frames on Friday evening at the Cal U Convocation Center.
 
Trailing 11-9 in the opening frame, the Golden Bears were sparked by a kill from Niki Carpenter (King of Prussia, Pa./Upper Merion Area) to bring the score within one. This began a four-point KU run that also included two kills from Brittney Moyer (Orwigsburg, Pa./Blue Mountain (Lock Haven)) and an Alli Henderson (Boalsburg, Pa./State College Area) service ace.
 
Following a Vulcan timeout, Cal's offense began to heat up, ripping off a 10-3 run to take a 21-16 lead.
 
Three consecutive kills from Holly Owen (Hatboro, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) and a Henderson kill quickly brought Kutztown within two, down 22-20.
 
Both sides traded points to the completion of this set and the Vulcans were able to fend off KU in set number one, winning by a final score of 25-23.
 
California continued its strong play into the beginning of the second set, racing out to an early 7-2 advantage, prompting a timeout from Head Coach John Gump.
 
The Vulcans held this margin to the midway point of the middle frame until, following a second Golden Bear timeout, a kill from Jessica Howe (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg Area) gave Kutztown some momentum. Immediately after, two Henderson service aces sandwiched a Cal U attacking error and KU was within two, trailing 16-14.
 
An 8-3 run from California in response ultimately put this frame out of reach for a resilient Golden Bear squad, which staved off match-point three times before falling in the second set, 25-20.
 
After trading points to open the third set, another pair of Henderson kills placed around a Vulcan attacking error gave KU a 12-9 lead.
 
Cal chipped away at this advantage, eventually tying up the score at 16-all. The teams then went point-for-point late into the final frame.
 
A kill from Howe put Kutztown ahead 22-21, but a four-point Vulcan run to finish the match sealed a victory in set three, 25-22, and the match, 3-0.
 
In the most competitive frame of the match, neither team led by more than three points at any time during the third set.
 
Howe and Owen delivered the Golden Bears' most notable offensive performances in the match, totaling a combined 17 kills. Owen led the way with a .233 attack percentage, posting 9 kills on 30 attempts.
 
Sydney Wilson (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) patrolled the KU backline to the tune of 27 digs in three sets, an average of 9.0 per set. Madisyn Kleinfelter (Jonestown, Pa./Northern Lebanon) and Amanda Meck (Fleetwood, Pa./Fleetwood Area) facilitated the Kutztown offense with a combined 27 assists on the evening.
 
The Golden Bears return to action tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m., squaring off with PSAC-foe Seton Hill University in Greensburg, Pa.