KUTZTOWN, Pa. -- For the fifth straight season, the Kutztown University women's volleyball team won its home opener as KU ramped up after a slow start to defeat Pace University in straight sets Wednesday night at Keystone Arena in a non-conference match. Scores of the match were 25-21, 25-22 and 25-22.

The Golden Bears (2-3 overall), who found themselves trailing by as many as nine points (14-5) in the opening set, turned it on from there scoring 20 of the next 27 points, including a run of six in-a-row to take the first set from the Setters (0-4). The Maroon and Gold kept the momentum going forward throughout the rest of the match. They never trailed in the second set, netting seven of the first eight points and held three separate leads of six in taking a commanding 2-0 lead in the match.

The third set was like the first in that Kutztown fell behind early, trailing 6-2 before tying the game at 7-7 and took its first lead at 9-8. From that point there were six ties before KU jumped in front by three (17-14). Pace closed to within just one at 23-22. After a timeout by head coach Allison Keeley, the Golden Bears got the final two points they needed to close this one out in straight sets.

Freshman Adrianna Derstine (Barto, Pa./Boyertown) led the way for KU offensively, finishing with a match-high 15 kills, while adding 10 digs, three blocks and three service aces. Derstine, along with senior Sadie Doss (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Mechanicsburg), attacked the net at will. Doss tallied 14 kills, 13 digs and two blocks. Alandra Hasbrouck (Middletown, N.Y./Pine Bush) contributed 18 assists, while Lexi Morrow (Landisburg, Pa./West Perry) had 14. Gianna Agosti (Nesquehoning, Pa./Marian Catholic) finished with 21 digs.

Kutztown is back on the road this weekend as it will play two matches in Philadelphia against Holy Family and Southern Connecticut State, both on Saturday, Sept. 3, beginning at noon.

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