JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – After suffering a sweep at the hands of (RV) Shippensburg last night, the West Chester University volleyball team bounced back on Saturday afternoon by defeating the reigning Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Champion Pitt-Johnstown 3-2 (21-25, 25-21, 12-25, 25-22, 15-10) inside the UPJ Sports Center.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After the Mountain Cats (10-10, 5-4 PSAC) grabbed the opener 25-21, the Golden Rams (17-3, 6-3 PSAC) responded by claiming the second stanza 25-21 to square the match at 1-1.
- The home team cruised to a 25-12 victory in the third frame, in a set that WCU tallied just a -.067 hitting percentage and six kills overall.
- Set four was another back-and-forth affair with both sides exchanging the lead throughout. Clinging to a slim 24-22 advantage late, WCU squared the match following a kill from senior Allie Duffy (CARLISLE, PA./CARLISLE) off an assist from fellow senior Jillian Grammer (CENTER VALLEY, PA./SOUTHERN LEHIGH).
- The Golden Rams raced out to a 4-1 cushion in the deciding set and despite UPJ's best efforts, never trailed for the duration of the fifth set. Up two late, back-to-back kills from freshman Julia Vreeswyk (YARDLEY, PA/PENNSBURY) would secure the set and the overall victory for West Chester on Saturday afternoon.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Vreeswyk paced the Golden Rams' offense with a career-high 25 kills against the Mountain Cats. Vreeswyk's 25 kills on Saturday were the most by any West Chester player this season and the highest total for a Golden Ram since Julia O'Brian also put up 25 kills in a match back in 2014. Saturday's total gives Vreeswyk the fourth most kills of any PSAC representative this year and her 66 total attacks against UPJ is also No. 4 in the conference through 20 matches this season.
- After failing to record a double-double last night for the first time in the last 10 matches, Grammer got back on track on Saturday by leading the WCU offense with 43 assists to go along with 15 digs against the Mountain Cats.
- Graduate student Nicki Yates (COOPERSBURG, PA./SOUTHERN LEHIGH) led all individuals with 25 digs in the match and Duffy notched a season-high four blocks for the Golden Rams.
UP NEXT
- WCU returns to action this Tuesday at home against Shepherd (7:00 p.m.) before embarking on a four-match road trip beginning with a date versus Kutztown next Friday (October 12) at 7:00 p.m.
