KUTZTOWN, Pa. --The Kutztown University women's volleyball team (9-15, 2-9 PSAC East) dropped its penultimate home match of the season in four sets (23-25, 25-17, 19-25, 21-25) to West Chester (11-3, 3-8 PSAC East) Friday night at Keystone Arena.
Gabriela Fialova (Ledec nad Sazavou, Czech Republic/Sportovni Gymnazium Ludvika Danka) was the story of the night for KU, leading the way with 23 kills and 19 digs. It's her fourth-highest kill total of the season and second-best in PSAC play. Sadie Doss (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Mechanicsburg) followed that up with 12 kills and seven digs of her own, along with Sarah Hess (Landisville, Pa./Hempfield) who had eight kills and four digs. Gianna Agosti (Nesquehoning, Pa./Marian Catholic) had the team-high in digs along with Fialova with 19, while Mallory Hoch (Zionsville, Pa./Southern Lehigh) chipped in 17 of her own. Setter Cat Farole (Orefield, Pa./Parkland) had 41 assists and 11 digs.
The first set was a battle of big runs between the two rivals. The Golden Bears went from down 11-8 to up 15-11 thanks to kills from Hess, Fialova, and Doss. West Chester then responded with a run of its own, going from 18-15 down to up 21-18. The teams traded points till the very end and another Fialova kill made it 24-23, but Brynn Dreisbach ended the set for West Chester as the Golden Rams took it 25-23.
The second set was all Golden Bears. Runs of four and five straight points saw KU jump out to a convincing 20-11 lead. West Chester battled back to make it a six-point set at 23-17, but back-to-back errors from the Golden Rams saw KU take the second set 25-17 and tie the match at one set apiece.
It was yet another battle in the third set as there were six lead changes in the early stages of the frame. The Golden Rams took a slight lead in the middle portion, but a kill from Hess, followed by a combined block from Doss and Hess cut the Golden Rams lead to only 17-16. West Chester scored five of the next six points to pull away as back-to-back errors ended the set in favor of the Golden Rams by a score of 25-19.
The fourth set was similar to the third as the teams traded points until 9-9. West Chester then began to pull away with a 12-5 run to make it 21-14. The Golden Bears showed no quit, as three straight points off serves from Hoch made it 23-19. KU was able to get it within three points at the end, including a wild rally to make it 24-21, but a kill from Tori Wright sealed the set and the match for West Chester.
The Golden Bears wrap up the 2023 home slate tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 4 against Millersville. First serve is set for 1 p.m. It will also be Senior Day, where KU will honor senior Cat Farole (Orefield, Pa./Parkland) pregame.
