KUTZTOWN, Pa. – In the first ever matchup between the two teams on the volleyball court, Kutztown women's volleyball responded from 1-0 and 2-1 holes, respectively, but eventually fell in five sets to New Haven 3-2 in a non-conference matchup Saturday afternoon inside Keystone Arena.
It was the first non-conference, home defeat this season for the Golden Bears (8-13 overall), who won their first three against Caldwell, Georgian Court and Chestnut Hill. It was also the final non-league game of the year as KU will play six more regular season matches, all in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, four of which are on the road.
Scores of the match were 19-25, 25-21, 24-26, 25-22, 3-15.
Gabriela Fialova (Ledec nad Sazavou, Czech Republic/Sportovni Gymnazium Ludvika Danka) and
Sadie Doss (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Mechanicsburg) led the attack, combining for 43 kills. Fialova tallied a team-high 25 kills, a season-best 21 digs and four service aces. Doss finished with 18 kills, five digs, two assists and one block.
Sarah Hess (Landisville, Pa./Hempfield) recorded eight kills, two assists, two aces and two blocks.
Cat Farole (Orefield, Pa./Parkland) contributed a career-high 46 assists and added 14 digs.
Gianna Agosti (Nesquehoning, Pa./Marian Catholic) registered 18 digs and three assists.
Kutztown and New Haven found each other tied on four different occasions in the opening set, but KU could never seem to take a lead. Ahead 21-19 late, the Chargers (15-7) netted the final four points to take the opener. The Maroon and Gold fell behind 13-7 in the second set, but went on a 7-0 run to take the lead and never trailed the rest of the way to even the match.
The third set featured 11 ties and Kutztown was within just two points of going up 2-1 in the match, leading 23-19, but New Haven scored seven of the last eight points and won it in extras. In the fourth set, it was KU that erased a late deficit as it found itself behind 21-19, but went on a 6-1 rally to even back up the match. It was all Chargers in the fifth set, finishing off the match.
Kutztown returns to Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference competition as it hits the road for two conference matches next weekend. KU is first at Bloomsburg next Friday, Oct. 27, at 6 p.m., and then will take on Lock Haven the next night, also at 6 p.m.
