WCU Goes Five Sets For Third Straight Match, Loses To IUP

WEST CHESTER, Pa. - West Chester volleyball had a home match for the first time since Sept. 10 on Friday and lost in five sets to Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference opponent Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

There were no sets separated by more than seven points as the two team's battled back and forth. The Golden Rams (12-4, 0-3 PSAC) took a 2-1 lead but dropped the final two sets to the Crimson Hawks (2-10, 1-2 PSAC).
 
How it happened:

• West Chester had a 19-16 lead in the first set but dropped nine of the last 10 points. Only senior Rachel Robb (Blackwood, N.J. / Paul VI) was able to record a kill for the Golden Rams in the final 10 points of the match.
• The Golden Rams pulled away with the second set by scoring six of the final eight points to finish it 25-18 Otherwise, it was close throughout. Sophomore Grace Whitney (Glenside, Pa. / Abington) had the final kill.
• The third set was much of the same as West Chester closed it out by taking nine of 11 points to win 25-20. Whitney and Robb played a large part in this one as well.
• WCU let another one slip in the fourth set. They had a 23-20 lead and lost 27-25. IUP took an 11-5 lead in the fifth set and never looked back, closing it out with a 15-10 effort.

 
By the numbers:

• Sophomore Julia Vreeswyk (Pennsbury / Yardley, Pa.) was the only Golden Ram to reach double-digit kills in the match. The outside hitter had 17 with a .350 hitting percentage.
• Graduate student Shaye Whiteman (Gettysburg, Pa. / Gettysburg) posted a match-high 26 digs.
• Senior Emily Ahern (Downingtown, Pa. / Downingtown West) was all over the court with 10 digs and 13 assists.
• The Golden Rams outhit the Crimson Hawks .217 to .199.
• West Chester has lost its first three conference matches, all in five sets.

 
Up next:
 
West Chester has a quick turnaround. The Golden Rams will face another PSAC team in University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Hollinger Field House.