EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. - West Chester University volleyball beat Stonehill College in five sets before suffering a hard-fought loss to Jefferson University on Saturday night, which marked the end of the East Stroudsburg Invitational.
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The Golden Rams had won 12 straight matches to begin the season, falling three shy of the 15-0 start in 2007, the best under 14th-year head coach
Kassie Bellaver.
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Match One: West Chester 3, Stonehill 2 (25-21, 14-25, 25-22, 21-25, 15-6)
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The Golden Rams and Skyhawks traded blows, going back and forth with set wins as WCU closed it out by winning nine of the final 10 points. It was West Chester's second five-set victory of the season.
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West Chester used 17 athletes in this one, and sophomore
Sarah Polacek (Johnstown, Pa. / Westmont Hilltop) led the way with 13 kills. Sophomores
Julia Vreeswyk (Yardley, Pa. / Pennsbury) and
Grace Whitney (Glenside, Pa. / Abington) and 11 and 10 kills, respectively.
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The Golden Rams had 12 blocking points in this one while Stonehill had three. Whitney, senior
Rachel Robb (Blackwood, N.J. / Paul VI) and Freshman
Hailey Lewis (Downingtown, Pa. / Downingtown West) had five block assists each.
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Sophomore
Maddy Moore (Newtown, Pa. / Council Rock North) recorded five of her team's eight service aces.
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Match Two: West Chester 1, Jefferson 3 (23-25, 22-25, 25-15, 23-25)
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This loss was tough to swallow for West Chester, as they couldn't seem to win the close sets, losing all three by three points or fewer. Their only set win came by the wide margin of 10 points.
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Polacek had 14 more kills, and the Golden Rams outhit Jefferson .179 to .158.
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Three Golden Rams had double-digit dig totals in the defeat. Graduate student
Shaye Whiteman (Gettysburg, Pa. / Gettysburg) had 22 digs while freshmen
Mel June (Morton, Pa. / Ridley) and
Jillian Borgerding (Highlands Ranch, Colo. / Highlands Ranch) had 12 and 10, respectively.
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Up next:
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West Chester begins conference play. The Golden Rams have a match at Seton Hill at 7 p.m. on Friday and California (Pa.) at 1 p.m. on Saturday.