KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University women's volleyball team forced a deciding fifth set after storming back from two sets down, but it was Lock Haven that used a comeback of their own in the final frame to knock off the Golden Bears by a score of 3-2 in a five-set Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Division matchup on Friday evening at Keystone Arena.

The Golden Bears (1-16, 0-4 PSAC East) fell short in back-to-back sets to give the Bald Eagles (4-8, 2-2 PSAC East) a chance to sweep in the third set. Led by Eagles teammates Kelly Gaston (3 service aces, .857 serve percentage) and Gracelynn Wolzen (15 kills), Lock Haven pushed to claim the match early in the fourth and fifth sets.

A valiant team effort from Kutztown kept that from happening, and a trio of Sarah Hess (Landisville, Pa./Hempfield) serves to close out the third set and a well-timed kill by Grace White (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown) in the fourth pushed the match to a winner take all fifth set.

The Golden Bears led the final set 12-6 at one point, using a series of Sarah Hess (Landisville, Pa./Hempfield) serves to put the pressure on the Bald Eagles. Lock Haven brought the match closer with Madison Eckley at the service line, and while Kutztown put themselves in position to win with a pair of match points at the end, it was Lock Haven who scored three straight points to seal the deal, winning 18-16.

Hess and White each contributed 19 points throughout the match, with the former leading the team with 16 kills on the night. Freshman libero Lexi McClanahan (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Hollidaysburg Area) picked up three service aces, while freshman Saige Thibodeaux (Cape Coral, Fla./Ida S. Baker) added 16 set assists and a pair of service aces for the Golden Bears.

Kutztown returns to Keystone Arena tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 12, when the Bloomsburg Huskies visit the Golden Bears at 4 p.m. for another PSAC East challenge.