WEST CHESTER, Pa. – The Kutztown University women's volleyball team faced off with West Chester University and Virginia State University on Saturday afternoon at Hollinger Fieldhouse, falling to WCU 3-2 before sweeping VSU to finish the day. 
 
Holly Owen (Hatboro, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) led the KU attack in both matches, posting a combined 32 kills on the day. Senior Jessica Howe (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg Area) racked up 19 kills in her final two contests in Maroon and Gold and classmate Brittney Moyer (Orwigsburg, Pa./Blue Mountain (Lock Haven)) added 15 kills on the day. Moyer finishes her KU career with 1,127 kills, third all-time at KU. Sydney Wilson (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) paced Kutztown defensively with 25 digs, completing her sophomore season with 494 digs and 1,077 thus far in her career, eighth all-time at KU. 
 
In its final Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) matchup of the season, KU (11-18, 3-15 PSAC) gave WCU (20-10, 9-9 PSAC) all it could handle on its own floor. The Golden Rams found their form, however, in a critical fifth-set, downing the Golden Bears 3-2 in the match. 
 
After suffering the setback to West Chester, the Maroon and Gold responded well, taking a thrilling opening set against VSU, 28-26. Kutztown then used its momentum to finish its season off in style, winning the final two sets to complete the sweep of 20-11 Virginia State. 
 
West Chester
 
The matchup between KU and WCU produced a tightly-contested affair as was the case in Kutztown's 3-1 defeat of the Golden Rams on Oct. 12 at Keystone Arena. Both sides split the first four sets with the Golden Bears taking sets one and four and West Chester winning sets two and three. This set the stage for a dramatic fifth-set, but the home team ultimately came out on top once again as WCU won the frame 15-5, taking the match 3-2. 
 
Moyer, Owen and Howe each totaled double-digit kills to lead the KU offense which racked up 52 kills, its third-most this season. Kutztown hit .271 in the match as well, its second-highest total in PSAC play in 2018. Abbey James (York, Pa./West York Area) recorded a double-double, her eighth of the season, with 20 assists and 11 digs for KU. 
 
Virginia State
 
Kutztown showed no ill effects despite a tough loss to rival-WCU, downing Virginia State in straight sets for its 11th win of the season. Owen led the Kutztown attack with 17 kills, hitting .414 on the outside. Niki Carpenter (King of Prussia, Pa./Upper Merion Area) posted four kills on six attacks, adding 3.0 blocks assists in her final match as a Golden Bear. Amanda Meck (Fleetwood, Pa./Fleetwood Area) had 10 assists after posting 17 against West Chester and James matched her number against WCU, dishing out 20 assists. 

As a team, the Golden Bears matched their output against West Chester, hitting .271 in the match. Kutztown's 43 kills compared to Virginia State's 34 along with its eight service aces propelled it to victory. 
 
With the 2018 campaign coming to a close, Kutztown now turns its attention to the offseason as it prepares for 2019.