Slippery Rock University Athletics

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. -  The Slippery Rock University volleyball team capped off its 2023 season Saturday with a four-set 25-16, 27-29, 25-21, 25-19 victory against Pitt-Johnstown at Morrow Field House.
 
The Rock's home finale victory gives SRU a final overall record in 2023 of 14-15 and a 6-10 mark in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division competition. Slippery Rock's 14 wins this season are tied for the program's highest victory total over the last nine years.
 
Pitt-Johnstown exits the regular season, and enters the upcoming PSAC Tournament, at 19-10 overall and 9-7 in PSAC West matches.
 
Slippery Rock held advantages over the Mountain Cats in nearly every statistical category Saturday including kills (50-46), attack percentage (.185-.123) and blocks (13-6). Both teams served eight aces while UPJ exited SRU with a slight 78-76 advantage in digs.
 
SRU tied its single-match season-high in total blocks against The Mountain Cats led by Lauren VonderHaar, who finished out a dominant sophomore campaign with a team-best seven blocks (three solo / four assisted) to give her 118 in 2023 – the sixth highest single-season total in program history.
 
One of seven Rock seniors playing in their final match Saturday, Mary Berger added four blocks (three solo / one assisted) of her own all the while supplying SRU with nine kills on a .400 attack percentage. Additionally, Callie Chevalier racked up four total blocks (1/3).
 
Alayna Chizmar, another SRU senior, tallied two blocks as well with Chelsie Wheeler rounding out the stout front line defense with one block.
 
As they have done for the overwhelming majority of the season, Slippery Rock's offensive efforts were paced by Chevalier and Erica Selfridge.
 
The duo combined for 25 kills in addition to each registering double-doubles with Chevalier going for 13 kills and 11 digs, in addition to her aforementioned four blocks, while Selfridge ended with 12 kills, 13 digs and two aces.
 
Rounding out SRU's attack was Berger, Wheeler and Chizmar with nine, eight and five kills, respectively. Setter Jaeden Yost not only distributed 23 assists, but also served four aces and made 12 digs for another double-double performance by a Rock athlete in the win.
 
In her final time on the Morrow Field House court, Peytan Gullickson passed out 16 assists and came away with eight digs.
 
Libero Kate Lachendro put the finishing touches on a great career as well via a 19-dig, one-ace showing. Lachendro leaves SRU having made 1,652 career digs which ranks seventh all-time in program history.
 
After splitting the opening two sets with the Mountain Cats, Slippery Rock took control of the match by ending the third on decisive 5-2 run en route to a 25-21 win.
 
SRU and Pitt-Johnstown played to a 7-7 tie in the fourth set before The Rock claimed 12 of the following 14 points to open a sizable 19-9 advantage. While UPJ was able to cut into its deficit, Slippery Rock's lead was never in true danger as Berger put a bow on the triumph by recording the final two points of the season on the way to a 25-19 match-deciding win.
 
Lualis Alvardo had 14 kills and two aces to lead Pitt-Johnstown.
 
Prior to Saturday's match Slippery Rock's 2023 senior class of Chizmar, Gullickson, Lachendro, Mary Berger, Jiley Berger, Paige Weeder, Elsie Williams and student assistant Hunter Weeder were recognized for their contributions to the program over their careers in a pre-match ceremony.





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