KUTZTOWN, Pa. -- Visiting Mercyhurst used a well-balanced effort to defeat the Kutztown University women's volleyball team, 3-0, in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) divisional crossover match at Keystone Arena Sunday afternoon.

The Golden Bears matched the Lakers in nearly every category, but Mercyhurst's 11 service aces and ability to come up with points late in sets proved to be the difference, as all three sets were decided by five points or less (25-22, 25-20, 25-21).

Holly Owen (Hatboro, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) led KU (6-9, 0-5 PSAC) with 11 kills and eight digs. Lilly Chalton had eight kills while hitting .429 and Britney Hewitt (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) recorded seven kills and five blocks (one solo).

Kutztown and Mercyhurst (11-5, 3-2) were even in digs, 51-51, while the Lakers held slight advantages in kills (39-35) and assists (35-34). Kutztown had a 7-6 edge in blocks.

Late rallies in the first and second sets by the Golden Bears weren't enough to keep the Lakers from claiming each. KU got off to a quick start in the third, leading 5-0 on a block from Hewitt and Haylee Holsopple (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg), an Owen kill and an Alli Henderson (Boalsburg, Pa./State College) ace. Mercyhurst would fight back to take a mid-set lead and hold on by scoring four of the final five points.

The Lakers received eight kills from Katie Baird and seven apiece from Madison Kasper and Alyssa Zirnheld. Zoe Gadomski served up five aces.

Kutztown heads west next weekend to resume PSAC play. The Golden Bears will be at Indiana (Pa.) on Friday evening at 7, before facing Pitt-Johnstown on Saturday at 1 p.m.