WEST CHESTER, Pa.- The West Chester University women's volleyball team (10-16, 2-9) returned to action at home on Friday night against Shepherd (20-3, 9-3) in an important PSAC East clash inside Hollinger Field House. West Chester fell to Shepherd by a 3-0 (25-22, 25-17, 25-19) final.

The Golden Rams got out to an early lead in the first set and held a 20-16 lead late in the opening set before Shepherd closed on a 9-2 run to capture it y a 25-22 final and take a 1-0 lead in the match. Shepherd followed a similar script in the second and third sets, erasing early Golden Ram advantages to capture the second set by a 25-17 final before winning the third and final set by a 25-19 final, despite a late charge by the Golden Rams, which had seen the hosts cut the deficit to 19-18 late in the set after a CeCe Isenberg (Berwick, Pa./Berwick) kill.

Julia Kwitchoff (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Niagara Wheatfield) led West Chester in kills with nine as she hit an exceptional .692 (9-0-13) along with a team-best four blocks.

Anna Richardson (Smyrna, Del./Smyrna) tied for the team lead in aces with two, while Bria Stepp (Cranberry Twp, Pa./Seneca Valley) and Addison Hertzog (Morgantown, Pa./Twin Valley) tied for the team lead in assists with 13 each. Richardson also led West Chester in digs with eight.

West Chester hit .195 (32-16-82) in the loss, despite a .350 (9-2-20) effort in the second set, while Shepherd hit .337 (42-11-92), including a mark of .438 (15-1-32) in the first set.

For Shepherd, Ada McCoy led all players in kills with 10, while adding an ace. Alexa Smith and Amya Davis tied for the team lead in aces with three each.

Up Next

West Chester will play its home finale on Saturday afternoon against Shippensburg beginning at 1 p.m.