KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Kutztown volleyball bounced back from a season-long two-match losing streak in a big way, defeating Lincoln in four sets Saturday afternoon in a non-conference match inside Keystone Arena.
The Golden Bears (7-6 overall) are back over the .500 mark and won by scores of 25-20, 25-10, 25-27 and 25-22. KU was swept in straight sets the night before, but responded the way it had hoped to halt the losing streak.
Kutztown finished with 48 kills, compared to 34 from Lincoln.
Gabriela Fialova (Ledec nad Sazavou, Czech Republic/Sportovni Gymnazium Ludvika Danka) led the attack with 16 kills and added eight digs.
Sadie Doss (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Mechanicsburg) recorded 11 kills and seven digs.
Julia Post (Sellersville, Pa./Pennridge) tallied seven kills and two blocks and
Sarah Hess (Landisville, Pa./Hempfield) contributed five kills and two digs.
Cat Farole (Orefield, Pa./Parkland) notched 40 assists and nine digs.
It did not come easily against the team from the CIAA. The Lions (3-4) made the Maroon and Gold work for every point in every set. KU scored the first three points of the opening set and found itself ahead by double figures late. Leading 23-13, Lincoln went on a 7-1 spurt to close the deficit, but a service error by Jaida Lumpkin, who recorded two aces in three previous services to that point, ended set one in Kutztown's favor.
Kutztown led from start to finish in the second set, netting 10 of the first 13 points and used a 6-0 run to extend a 17-9 lead to 23-9 and took a commanding 2-0 match lead.
The Lions, with their backs against the wall, responded in set three. They trailed 4-1 early, but scored five in-a-row to go on top 6-4 and held on to the lead the rest of the way. It was more back-and-forth in the fourth set as there were four ties. With the score tied 12-12, the Golden Bears went on a 5-0 run and then held off Lincoln rallies, never allowing the lead to dissipate, even with the Lions getting to within one three different times.
Kutztown returns to action in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference with two road matches next weekend. KU is at West Chester next Friday, Sept. 29, for a 7 p.m., match, and then takes on Millersville the following day at 2 p.m.
