MILLERSVILLE, Pa. -- Friday night's PSAC East match between Kutztown and Millersville could have gone either way with all four sets decided by three points or fewer, but ultimately it was the host Marauders coming out on top with a 3-1 victory at Pucillo Gymnasium by scores of 25-22, 23-25, 25-22 and 25-22.

The Golden Bears nearly came out of the gate with an opening set victory. They led 21-19 on a kill from Sophia Basler (Dover, Del./Smyrna), but Millersville responded with the next five points to bring up set point. A kill by Erin Patterson (Garnet Valley, Pa./Garnet Valley) briefly kept KU alive, but Lauren Lucas secured the set for the Marauders, 25-22, with a kill on the next point.

Kutztown (6-11, 2-4 PSAC East) raced out to a 14-6 advantage in the second behind three Patterson kills and two Lauren Jackson (Stafford, Va./Mountain View) blocks. Millersville stormed back with Caitlyn Callahan and Kylie Airesman combining for seven kills and three aces during a 15-3 run that put the hosts on the brink of seizing control of the match.

The Maroon and Gold found their footing in the nick of time, scoring seven consecutive points to close the set. Emma Filipovits (Hanover, Pa./South Western) produced a pair of kills, Sydney Wilson (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) had a service ace and the Marauders (7-14, 3-4 PSAC East) committed four errors in the deciding run as KU pulled even at a set apiece with the 25-23 win.

Millersville's attack stepped up in the late going hitting better than .300 in the third and fourth sets. They totaled 37 kills against just nine errors on 89 attempts in claiming both sets by identical 25-22 scores.

KU was in position to force a fifth set, tying the fourth at 22 on a Basler kill, but the Marauders went back to Callahan and Airesman for kills to help finish it.

The Golden Bear offensive attack was led by Patterson. The senior finished with 11 kills and a .300 hitting percentage. Filipovits and Jackson had seven kills apiece, while Grace Ingram (Allentown, Pa./William Allen) and Julia Post (Sellersville, Pa./Pennridge) added five. Lexi Morrow (Landisburg, Pa./West Perry) assisted on 25-of-41 KU kills, Wilson (17) and Sadie Doss (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Mechanicsburg) (12) each had double-digit digs and Jackson tied for a match-high with four blocks (one solo).

The Marauder offense ran through Lucas, Callahan, and Airesman. The trio combined for 50 kills, with Lucas providing a match-high 21 and Callahan 17. Emma Ludwig had 47 assists and Emily Hoffman collected 16 digs and four aces.

Kutztown completes its weekend with a trip to West Chester, Saturday, to take on the Rams. Match time is 1 p.m.