KUTZTOWN, Pa. --The Kutztown University women's volleyball team (8-11, 1-6 PSAC East) put on a show Saturday afternoon at Keystone Arena, sweeping Lock Haven (8-7, 3-4 PSAC East) 3-0 (25-21, 25-15, 25-21) en route to the Golden Bear's first conference win of the 2023 season.
Fresh off a 28-kill performance on Friday night against Bloomsburg, Sadie Doss (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Mechanicsburg) led the way for KU with 20 kills and an impressive .471 hitting percentage. Gabriela Fialova (Ledec nad Sazavou, Czech Republic/Sportovni Gymnazium Ludvika Danka) had 11 kills, four service aces, and seven digs in the win. Cat Farole (Orefield, Pa./Parkland) had 27 assists, while libero Gianna Agosti (Nesquehoning, Pa./Marian Catholic) led the defensive effort with 8 digs. The Golden Bears dominated at the net, as Sarah Hess (Landisville, Pa./Hempfield) and Grace Ingram (Allentown, Pa./William Allen) combined for seven blocks compared to Lock Haven's one.
The first set started off with both teams trading points till 10-10 before Lock Haven went on a run to make it 13-10. The Golden Bears roared back, eventually taking the 15-14 lead thanks to back-to-back service aces from Emma Stalsitz (Allentown, Pa./Parkland). The teams traded points yet again till it was 19-19. The Golden Bears ended the set on a 6-2 run, capturing the first set 25-21.
The second set was all KU. The teams were knotted at nine before Fialova and the Golden Bears rattled off eight straight points to make it 16-9. The Bald Eagles couldn't recover as a Fialova kill capped off a 25-15 set two victory. Set three was more of the same, as KU had a 24-13 advantage with match point. Lock Haven didn't go quietly, scoring eight straight to make it 24-21, but a kill from Ingram was the match point as KU completed the sweep.
Allison Keeley has had Lock Haven's number since taking over the Golden Bears last season, sweeping the Bald Eagles each of the three times they've matched up. KU has won eight of the last nine matchups against Lock Haven dating back to 2017.
The Golden Bears are back in action on Friday, Oct. 20 as they travel to take on East Stroudsburg at 7 p.m. KU will then host New Haven the next day at Keystone Arena.
