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SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University volleyball team earned a four-set Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division victory at home against California (Pa.) Friday at Morrow Field House.
 
The Rock and Vulcans split the first two sets with SRU taking the opener 25-18 while losing the second set 26-24 before rebounding with a pair of match-deciding 25-19, 25-16 victories over the third and fourth sets.
 
Friday's win improves Slippery Rock's record to 13-16 overall and 7-8 inside the PSAC West. With one match remaining in the season, SRU has already earned its third-highest single-season win total over the last 11 years. Additionally, Slippery Rock has also compiled a stellar 6-2 record when playing at Morrow Field House in 2022. The victory also served as SRU's first against the Vulcans since 2006.
 
As she has done so many times this season, Erica Selfridge once again led SRU to the win by recording a 13-kill, 19-assist, 11-dig triple-double that also included two aces, two blocks and a .444 attack percentage. Selfridge has now been responsible for two of the last seven triple-doubles by a Rock athlete since 2004.
 
Lauren VonderHaar earned the first start of her collegiate career Friday and responded by producing one of the top single-match efforts from a Rock freshman middle hitter in recent memory. In addition to five kills, VonderHaar also produced 10 blocks (two solo / eight assisted).
 
Since the 2002 season, there have been just three other SRU athletes that have had more blocks in a single-match: Michelle Hren (12 vs. West Liberty, 2013), Lisa Bakaitis (11 vs. Millersville, 2011) and Abigail Nigon (11 vs. Notre Dame, 2022).
 
Friday's youth movement for The Rock also saw freshman Callie Chevalier register a team-high 14 kills on a .244 attack percentage, freshman Jaeden Yost distribute 18 assists and sophomore Paige Weeder serve a Rock-best three aces.
 
Rounding out Slippery Rock's attack with matching five-kill performances were Abigail Koeller and Chelsie Wheeler.
 
Joining VoderHaar with great matches defensively was the trio of Nigon, Wheeler and Alayna Chizmar with three blocks apiece and libero Kate Lachendro, who made 18 digs.
 
As a team, Slippery Rock held advantages over the Vulcans in attack percentage (.232-.146), aces (8-4) and total blocks (14-5) while California edged SRU in kills (53-49) and digs (66-60).
 
After trading wins in the opening two sets, Slippery Rock overcome an early 9-3 deficit to pull out an eventual 25-19 in the third set courtesy of a commanding 22-10 run.
 
SRU led by two points at 11-9 in the fourth set before taking the next seven points to open a nine-point lead it would never relinquish en route to an eventual 25-16 match-deciding victory.
 
Slippery Rock will close out the 2022 season 2 p.m. Saturday when it hosts Seton Hill University at Morrow Field House. Prior to the match, Slippery Rock will honor its senior class of Koeller, Nigon, Chizmar, Maria Lucas and Stephanie O'Donnell for their contributions to the program over their careers.




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