SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. -- Kutztown University outside hitter Holly Owen (Hatboro, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) tied a program record with 30 kills on Friday night, but host Slippery Rock overcame a set deficit to outlast the Golden Bears, 3-2, in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference opener for both sides.

Owen joined Sarah Brandon as the only Kutztown players to ever eclipse the 30-kill mark. Brandon registered 30 kills, also in five sets, during a match against Indiana (Pa.) on Sept. 24, 2005.

The Golden Bears (6-5, 0-1 PSAC) jumped out to an early lead by winning the opening set, 25-22, behind eight Owen kills. Britney Hewitt (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) added three as 17 of KU's 25 points in the set came off of kills.

Owen quickly went into double figures in kills with four more in the early stages of the second. Kutztown built a 9-4 lead and forced a Rock timeout, but the set shifted in the hosts favor soon thereafter. Abigail Nigon had a block and a kill to finish a 7-1 run for SRU. Later, Stephanie Jacobsen had two kills as part of a 7-2 spurt that put The Rock (6-6, 1-0) ahead 18-14.

KU tried to inch back into contention before Kaley Fucci's kill gave Slippery Rock the set, 25-23.

Extra points were needed in the third, but the Maroon and Gold would be rewarded for their most efficient offensive set of the night with a 27-25 win. Owen was the focal point with seven kills on 20 attempts, Abbey James (York, Pa./West York Area) had 10 assists, Alli Henderson (Boalsburg, Pa./State College) two aces and Sydney Wilson (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) seven digs. KU hit .224 in the set with 17 kills on 49 tries.

Slippery Rock managed to stay a step ahead in the fourth set, never trailing en route to tying the match, 25-18. Kutztown got within 17-15 off a combo block from Hewitt and Lauren Jackson (Stafford, Va./Mountain View) and a Hewitt kill, but The Rock scored eight of the final 11 points in the set.

Much like the second set, the Golden Bears started fast in the fifth, but could not hang on. Owen recorded three kills and Lexi Morrow (Landisburg, Pa./West Perry) an ace as KU went in front 7-4. Slippery Rock outscored the Bears 11-3 the rest of the way with Abigail Koeller contributing three sets and Zoe Rivet two aces in a 15-10 Rock victory.

Owen hit .208 for the match and set a new program standard with 77 attack attempts. KU middle hitter Lilly Charlton (Landenberg, Pa./Avon Grove) had a very strong 10 kills and no errors on 14 attempts (.714) to go along with a pair of blocks. Hewitt, Haylee Holsopple (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg) and Erin Patterson (Garnet Valley, Pa./Garnet Valley) had seven kills apiece, while Henderson had six to go with 12 digs.

Wilson led the way defensively with 34 digs, which are tied for the 10th most in a match in team history. James (34) and Morrow (22) combined for 56 assists.

Slippery Rock put three players in double figures in kills led by Koeller's 15. Jacobsen had 14 and Fucci 13. Rivet had an assists-digs double-double with 46 and 12, while Koeller (15-13) and Fucci (13-13) had kills-digs double-doubles. Jayln Willard put up a team-high 21 digs for The Rock.

Kutztown continues its western swing tomorrow at Clarion at 1 p.m.