Box Score

INDIANA, PA – Inconsistencies and errors led the IUP women's volleyball team to a straight set loss as the hands of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference's top school, California (Pa.).

Heading into the game, both teams were on a hot streak. Winners of their last four and six of their last seven, the Crimson Hawks put themselves back in the playoff picture in the previous two weeks of play. Cal U is unbeaten in the PSAC and came in on an 11 game win streak, having not lost a match since Oct. 2.

The Vulcans dominance proved too much for the Crimson Hawks, as they fell 25-14, 25-17, 25-23.

Cal U got things started right away, going on a 6-0 run to open up the first set. The Crimson Hawks responded, scoring nine of the next 17 points. The Vulcans, however, kept the pressure and would go on an 11-5 run to claim the 25-14 victory.

The Crimson Hawks kept it close to open the second set, trading points with the Vulcans, keeping it close early on. Leading 12-11, the Vulcans turned the tables on IUP, holding them to just six more points in the match, while scoring 13 of their own and taking the 25-17 win.

The Vulcans continued that dominance to open up the third set, getting up by as many as nine points to take an early 13-4 lead. After an IUP timeout, the Crimson Hawks responded, scoring 11 of the next 16 points and forcing Cal U to call a timeout.

IUP capitalized on a slew of Cal U errors, tying the game at 19-19 after three straight attack errors by the Vulcans. However it would not be enough as the Vulcans showed why they are the conference's best team, going on a 6-4 run to take the set 25-23 and claim their 23rd victory on the season.

Errors played a big role in the loss, as the Crimson Hawks finished the match with 42 total errors in just three sets of play. As a team, IUP finished with only 21 kills, their lowest total in the month of October. It was the first time an IUP player failed to register double-digit kills since a 3-0 victory over Cheyney Oct. 18. 

Leading the way for the Crimson Hawks was Ericka Lentz (Reading/Holy Name) who posted a team-high six kills. Stephanie Kruzynski (Oxford/Oxford) added four kills and one ace, while Elizabeth Sova (Myerstown, Pa. /ELCO) finished with four kills, one ace and one block.

Defensively, Joie Hrapla (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Bishop Canevin) led the team in digs with 14, followed by Lindsay Moeller (Troy, Mich./Troy) and Kelly Barnes (Inver Grove Heights, MN/Simley) with 12 apiece.

With the loss, the Crimson Hawks fall to 10-18 (6-10) on the season. They'll wrap up their five-game home stand Saturday, hosing the Griffins of Seton Hill in a 4 p.m. matchup at the Kovalchick Complex.