Vulcans Suffer Road Setback Against Edinboro, Prepare for Seton Hill Match
California University of Pennsylvania’s volleyball team faced a tough challenge on the road, falling to Edinboro 3-1 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action on Saturday evening. The Vulcans (15-6, 2-4) are now looking ahead to their final game of a three-match road trip, scheduled for Tuesday, October 21st, against Seton Hill.
The match, played in Edinboro, Pennsylvania, saw the Fighting Scots take an early lead and ultimately secure the victory with set scores of 25-17, 25-17, 22-25, and 25-18. This loss marks the fourth in the last six matches for California, with all four defeats occurring away from home.
Edinboro Dominates Early Sets
Edinboro established control early in the contest, particularly in the first set. The Fighting Scots quickly jumped ahead to an 11-2 advantage and finished the set with an impressive .457 hitting percentage, winning 25-17. They continued their momentum into the second set, closing with an 8-3 run to secure another 25-17 victory.
However, the Vulcans demonstrated resilience in the third set. The team recorded 15 kills and limited their attack errors to just three, resulting in a 25-22 win. Despite this comeback, Edinboro regained it’s composure in the fourth set, leading from start to finish and registering 20 kills to close out the match 25-18.
Did you know? – Edinboro’s strong start, with a .457 hitting percentage in the first set, set the tone. The Vulcans’ comeback in the third set wasn’t enough to overcome the Fighting Scots’ early dominance. The final score was 25-18.
Rugiero Leads Vulcan Attack
despite the loss, several Vulcans delivered strong individual performances. Elisa rugiero, a senior, led the team with nine kills on 22 attempts, achieving a .273 hitting percentage. Junior Sarah Stephenson and freshman Olivia Weiseman each contributed eight kills to the Vulcan offense.
The offensive direction was skillfully managed by senior Adrianna Favata and sophomore Morgan Johnson,who recorded 18 and 17 assists,respectively.Defensively, Weiseman stood out with 13 digs, while senior Caroline Mercer added 10 digs.
Pro tip: – Even in defeat,individual performances can shine. Elisa Rugiero’s nine kills and Olivia Weiseman’s 13 digs highlight the Vulcans’ efforts. Strong offensive direction from Favata and Johnson also contributed to the team’s performance.
Looking Ahead to Seton Hill
the Vulcans will conclude their road trip on Tuesday, October 21st, with a match against Seton hill in Greensburg, pennsylvania, at 6 p.m. This game presents an opportunity for California to rebound from the setback against Edinboro and improve their standing in the PSAC West standings.
