CALIFORNIA, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University Volleyball team earned a convincing four-set Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division victory on the road Saturday at California (Pa.).
SRU took the opening two sets 25-23, 25-17 before the Vulcans spoiled the potential sweep with a 25-23 win in the third set. However, The Rock put any thoughts of a home comeback to rest with a 25-22 match-clinching victory in the fourth for what was The Rock's first PSAC West win of the season.
With the win, Slippery Rock improves to 8-7 overall and 1-2 inside the PSAC while California drops to 3-8 overall and 0-3 in league matches.
Slippery Rock registered a team single-season high 62 kills on a quality .230 attack percentage in addition to tallying 10 aces and 11 total blocks. Saturday's match served as the fourth contest of the year in which SRU has tallied double-digit aces and the fifth time The Rock have reached double-digit block totals.
Defensively, SRU limited the Vulcans to a .125 attack percentage.
The Rock featured a three-pronged offensive attack from
Callie Chevalier,
Erica Selfridge and
Aslyn Pry.
Chevalier posted a match-best 15 kills courtesy of a .231 attack percentage while Selfridge compiled a great all-around showing of 14 kills, 15 digs, three blocks and one ace. Pry's quality day saw her finish with 11 kills on a virtually automatic .421 attack percentage in addition to four blocks.
Adding to SRU's impressive offensive performance was
Lauren VonderHaar (8 kills / .389 %),
Chelsie Wheeler (6 kills) and
Kaitlyn Danszczak (5 kills).
VonderHaar again proved why she is one of the top middle hitters in the Atlantic Region via a match-high seven blocks (one solo / six assisted). She has now produced 26 blocks over The Rock's last four outings.
Setter
Jaeden Yost distributed a career-high 38 assists alongside 14 digs and two aces for the double-double showing.
Brooke Farrah came off the bench to give SRU 14 assists as well.
Kara Pasquale continued a strong rookie campaign with five huge aces, matching Slippery Rock's single-season match high.
Following a season-high 30-dig output, senior libero
Kate Lachendro-Biery passed Courtney Oberlander (2015-17) for second place in program history for digs in a career with 1,913. Lachendro-Biery is now just 38 digs away from surpassing Sally Scott (1997-00) to become The Rock's all-time digs leader.
After taking the opening two sets Slippery Rock found itself trailing 21-12 in the third set before a spirited comeback saw SRU rattle off an 11-3 run pulled The Rock to within one point at 24-23 before the Vulcans narrowly avoided the comeback defeat thanks to a kill from Allie Droneberger for the 25-23 win.
California proceeded to jump out to a 12-6 advantage before SRU answered back with a 9-2 spurt that was highlighted by a pair of Pasquale aces and two Wheeler kills to push The Rock out to a slim 15-14 lead.
To their credit, the Vulcans continued to fight with a run their own that gave way to an eventual 22-19 lead. However, the remainder of match belonged to The Rock which fired off six consecutive points to stave off the comeback threat with a match-deciding 25-22 fourth-set win.
Pasquale supplied SRU with three clutch aces over the decisive run.
Droneberger paced the Vulcans with a 12-kill, 11-dig double-double.
Following 15 matches away from home to start the season, Slippery Rock will finally compete in its 2024 home-opener when it hosts Clarion 6:30 p.m. Oct. 11 at Morrow Field House on night one of The Rock's weekend-long Dig For The Cure event.
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