LAKEWOOD, N.J. – The Kutztown University volleyball team won its second and third straight matches on Friday evening, sweeping Queens College and host-Georgian Court University in its final non-conference action before the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) season begins. 
 
Improving to 6-3, KU now has its best start since 2011 when head coach John Gump led the Golden Bears to a 24-9 record and PSAC quarterfinal appearance. 
 
The outstanding play of both outside hitters continues to be the story for the Golden Bears early in the 2018 season. Holly Owen (Hatboro, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) led the attack to the tune of 19 and 11 kills against QC and GCU, respectively, extending her streak of being the team's leader in kills to nine straight matches.  Brittney Moyer (Orwigsburg, Pa./Blue Mountain (Lock Haven)) matched Owen with 11 kills against Queens and added nine kills with just two errors against GCU. 
 
Setters Abbey James (York, Pa./West York Area) and Amanda Meck (Fleetwood, Pa./Fleetwood Area) paced the Golden Bear offense which totaled 71 kills, hitting .225 in six sets. Sydney Wilson (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) totaled 14 assists from her libero position and led the way with a combined 23 digs. 
 
Queens
KU was given all it could handle in the opening set of the triangular by the Knights of Queens in what was a very tight first frame. 
 
Both sides traded runs early with the set tied at 12-all at the midway point. The Golden Bears jumped in front at this point, opening up a five-point lead at the 20-15 mark.
 
Still, QC battled to the end, scoring eight of the final 13 points, but Kutztown was able to finish off the opening set victory despite that, winning 25-23. 
 
The Maroon and Gold came out in impressive form to begin the second set, using its multi-faceted attack to go ahead 14-5. 
 
With this margin in hand, KU cruised to the finish line of set two in style, scoring 10 unanswered points to close out the frame, 25-6. 
 
Kutztown continued to roll in what would be the deciding frame, taking leads of 15-5 and 20-8 on its way to a 25-10 win, sweeping the match 3-0. 
 
Georgian Court
Trailing 7-4 to begin the nightcap against the Lions of GCU, Meck delivered a 5-0 serving run, dishing out four straight kills which were followed by a Lion error, forcing a timeout from Georgian Court.
 
After GCU knotted the opening frame at 9-all, but KU then ran off eight of the next 11 points to go ahead 17-12, prompted the second Georgian Court timeout of the set. 
 
Late in the first set, the Lions pulled within one, down just 22-21, but Kutztown finished with three straight tallies to close out the set, winning 25-21. 
 
The Maroon and Gold rode their momentum into the second set, going in front 10-6. GCU, however, used three straight kills to erase this advantage, sparking a back-and-forth run in set two. 
 
Each side traded points with KU clinging to a slim 16-15 lead until it used a 5-1 run to distance itself from GCU for good. Moyer finished off the frame with a kill, which ended in Kutztown's favor 25-21.
 
The host-Lions wouldn't go quietly in the third as Georgian Court continued to keep right with the Golden Bears. Tied 14-14, the Maroon and Gold got timely kills from Owen (2) and Moyer (1) to open up a four-point cushion, in front 20-16.
 
After a Lion timeout, KU showed its ability to finish once again, using a 5-2 spurt to finish off GCU in straight sets, taking set three, 25-18. 
 
The Golden Bears' next action will be on Sept. 14 and 15., when they take on Mercyhurst and Gannon to begin their 2018 PSAC slate.