West Chester Volleyball Surprises Pitt-Johnstown, 3-1

Box Score

WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Julia O'Brien (New Holland, Pa./Garden Spot) led four players in double figures in kills as host West Chester jumped out to an early lead and then held on for a 3-1 victory over visiting Pitt-Johnstown Friday night in a PSAC women's volleyball match.
 
West Chester (11-6, 3-5 PSAC) notched its first win in three tries over Pitt-Johnstown (8-5, 4-4) since the Mountain Cats joined the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. The Golden Rams captured the first two sets, 25-14 and 25-21, before dropping set three, 26-24. However, West Chester survived a see-saw battle in game four, 32-30.
 
The hosts took advantage of UPJ's 12 service errors and seven return errors to jump out on top in sets, 2-0. The Mountain Cats mustered just eight kills in the opening set and hit just .114 in the second.
 
Annalee Halbert (Port Murray, N.J./West Morris Central) registered a season-high and career-best 53 assists, taking over main setting duties for the Golden Rams Friday. It was the most assists in a match by a Golden Rams player since Helen Fitzpatrick's 58 helpers in November 2010.
 
O'Brien registered 17 kills for West Chester, hitting .394 in the match. She added five blocks as well. Marina Sharkey (Newtown Square, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) and Karleigh Lutz (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) each posted 12 kills. Victoria Cruciani (Phoenixville, Pa./Pope John Paul II) notched 10 kills. In all, West Chester hit .253 for the match, recording 59 kills.
 
Bethany Gould (Camp Hill, Pa./Cumberland Valley) registered 17 digs while Rachel Powers (Wallingford, Pa./Strath Haven) netted 12.
 
West Chester returns to Hollinger Field House Saturday afternoon for a 1 p.m. showdown with Lock Haven.