WEST CHESTER, Pa.- The West Chester women's volleyball team (15-5, 5-3 PSAC) continued what has been a strong week on Saturday afternoon with a 3-0 victory (25-20, 25-16, 25-16) over PSAC rival Kutztown (6-12, 2-5 PSAC).
In the first set, West Chester jumped out to an early 8-4 lead before Kutztown responded with a quick 7-2 run to claim an 11-10 lead. The Golden Rams did not trail for long as they answered back quickly with a 11-2 run to claim a 21-13 lead in the late stages of the set. Kutztown rallied late to make the score 24-20 late in the set but West Chester was able to get its 25
th point off a Golden Bear attack error to earn the 25-20 opening-set victory.
The second set opened similarly to the first, as West Chester raced out to an early 8-2 lead before stretching its lead to 21-7 just past the midway point of the set. Kutztown mounted a brief rally from this point as the Golden Bears scored nine of the next 12 points to make the score 24-16 late in the set but
Hailey Lewis (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown West) recorded one of her six kills on the match to close out the second set victory for West Chester and gave the Golden Rams a 2-0 lead in the match.
In the third set, West Chester and Kutztown traded points throughout much of the early going as West Chester only held a slim 12-9 lead nearing the midway point of the set. From this point, the Golden Rams went on a 7-2 run to claim a commanding 19-11 lead entering the late stages of the set. West Chester closed out the match on a 4-0 run with
Maria Harding (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth) recording each of the final two points on two of her seven kills on the afternoon.
Offensively, West Chester was very balanced in the victory as
Julia Vreeswyk (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) led the Golden Rams in kills once more with 10 on the afternoon while
Olivia Rudjord (Foglesville, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) turned in nine kills with Harding and
Grace Whitney (Glenside, Pa/Abington) logging seven kills each. After her career night a night ago,
Jamie Byrne (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) led the way in assists once again with 30 while also recording six digs in the victory.
Sydney Heffner (Bath, Pa./Northampton) led the team defensively once again, as the lone Golden Ram in double figures for digs with 12 in the victory.
As a team, West Chester hit an impressive .356 while holding Kutztown to a meager .165 hitting percentage, including a .069 effort in the third set.
West Chester will be back in action next Friday night at Millersville with that match beginning at 7 p.m.
