SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University volleyball team lost a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division match to California University (Pa.) Saturday at Morrow Field House.
 
Slippery Rock (4-12, 1-3 PSAC West) lost the opening two sets 25-16 and 25-17 before rallying back for a 25-22 win only for the Vulcans (6-6, 2-2 PSAC West) to end The Rock's comeback hopes with a 25-16 victory in the fourth set.
 
Chelsie Wheeler came off the bench to lead The Rock with 10 kills against the Vulcans. Lauren Crytzer added nine kills on a near flawless .500 attack percentage in addition to recording a team-best two blocks.
 
Erica Selfridge and Mary Berger chipped in seven kills each while Abigail Koeller rounded out The Rock's attack with four kills. Selfridge and Koeller also served one ace each. Taylor Fellers guided SRU's offense with 22 assists. Kate Lachendro made 25 digs all the while serving two aces.
 
After dropping the opening two sets Slippery Rock battled back in the third game to avoid the sweep by producing a hard-fought 25-22 win. SRU trailed the Vulcans, 17-14, before going on an 11-5 run to stave off the loss. Berger and Wheeler both had four kills in the third set to pace SRU's efforts.
 
However, any thoughts of a Rock comeback were dashed in the fourth as the Vulcans scored 14 of the 20 points when the set was tied at 5-5 to pull ahead 19-11 on the way to an eventual 25-16 match-clinching victory.
 
For the match, California held advantages over The Rock in attack percentage (.252-.104), kills (56-38), aces (9-4) and total blocks (7-2).
 
Slippery Rock steps out of PSAC West competition to host Tiffin University 6 p.m. Oct. 5 at Morrow Field House.
 
 
 

To stay up to date with all that happens at The Rock, follow our official athletic communication accounts on Twitter (@Rock_Athletics), Facebook (RockAthletics) and Instagram (RockAthletics).