SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University volleyball team earned a five-set Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division victory against California (Pa.) Tuesday at Morrow Field House.
 
After losing the opening set to the Vulcans, 25-21, Slippery Rock rallied with consecutive 25-19 victories in the second and third sets only for California to take the fourth set, 25-21, leading to a final game in which SRU was able to win 16-14.
 
Slippery Rock is now 2-2 this year in matches that have went five sets.
 
With the win, Slippery Rock improves its overall record to 13-13 and its conference mark to 5-8 while the Vulcans drop to 7-13 overall and 2-11 inside the PSAC West.
 
With three contests remaining in the regular season, Slippery Rock currently sits 2.5 matches out of the fourth spot in the division standings. The top four teams in the PSAC East and PSAC West standings at the conclusion of the regular season qualify for the conference tournament.
 
Slippery Rock was led by a stellar defensive performance on a night in which its offensive attack could never quite find a consistent rhythm.
 
SRU limited California to a hitting percentage of just .063 thanks in no small part to a season-high 13 total blocks paced by Lauren VonderHaar's seven rejections (three solo / four assisted). Mary Berger added five total blocks (three solo / two assisted) as well while Alayna Chizmar and Callie Chevalier chipped in three apiece.
 
Additionally, Rock libero Kate Lachendro set a single-match program record with 45 digs. The previous SRU record belonged to Courtney Oberlander, who registered 42 digs against Lock Haven in 2016.
 
Chevalier closed the match with a double-double courtesy of a team-best 10 kills to go alongside 11 digs, three aces and her previously mentioned block totals.
 
Erica Selfridge produced nine kills to supplement Chevlaier's offense all the while coming up with 19 digs. Berger and Chizmar rounded out SRU's leaders on the attack with seven kills apiece. Jaeden Yost turned in her eighth double-double of the season by passing out 27 assists and making 11 digs.
 
After The Rock and Vulcans split the opening four sets, the fifth set followed the precedent of the evening in what was another back-and-forth outing.
 
SRU jumped out to an 8-5 edge midway through the final set, only for California to climb back into the contest by pulling even at 11-11 and forcing a Rock timeout. Following the brief break in action, Slippery Rock and Cal continued to trade points on the way to a 14-14 tie.
 
However, Slippery Rock eventually got the better of the visiting Vulcans by claiming the final two points of the night via a Selfridge kill and California's 42nd attack error of the night to finish off a 16-14 match-deciding win.
 
Elisa Rugiero had 19 kills and three aces to pace the Vulcans.
 
Prior to the match, the Slippery Rock athletic department recognized SRU head coach Laurie Lokash for her 40th season in leading the program with a brief pre-match ceremony. Lokash, who ranks 20th in Division II history in career victories with 675, was presented with ball signed by the 2023 roster.
 
Slippery Rock is back in action 1 p.m. Saturday as it looks to finish off a season-sweep of Seton Hill University when it travels to Greensburg, Pennsylvania for a match against the Griffins.





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