INDIANA, Pa. – IUP women's volleyball smacked 14 service aces on the night, adding a balanced attack and stout defense in a straight set victory against California (Pa.). Set scores from the KCAC were 25-15, 25-17 and 25-22.
 
IUP (16-7, 6-3) posted its fourth consecutive win against California (6-10, 1-8) with Tuesday's victory. IUP has now won 10 matches or more at home for the second consecutive season, pushing its record to 10-1 at games inside the KCAC in 2023.
 
Stefania Anagnostou and Delaney Concannon logged eight kills and three aces each in an all-around offensive showing for the Hawks. Nyla Birch added seven kills while Kat Warpinski fired in three aces with 13 assists.
 
Bailey Flowerdew added 11 digs and a pair of aces on the night. For the Vulcans, Elisa Rugiero fired in six kills with 11 digs.
 
With some efficient offense early, IUP built a lead throughout the opening set. Consecutive service aces from Caroline Walsh highlighted a 4-0 scoring run for a 16-8 advantage. The Vulcans stayed within striking distance, slicing the deficit to 17-13 before the Hawks countered back.
 
A block assist from Walsh and Simay Memisoglu pushed momentum solely in favor of IUP with a 23-14 lead, all part of a 6-1 rally for the hosts. Warpinski smacked down IUP's sixth ace of the set for a 25-15 victory and early lead in the match. IUP hit .304 in the opening set and was strong defensively in limiting the Vulcans' opportunities.
 
IUP stormed out of the gate at the onset of the second set for an 8-3 advantage, prompting a swift Cal U timeout. Hannah Simmons delivered a service ace as part of a 3-0 surge for the Hawks before the Vulcans chipped away within two (8-6). IUP maintained the advantage in the second set, limiting Cal U to a negative hitting percentage. The Hawks finished out the frame with five of the final seven points, capped by Memisoglu's second kill of the evening for a 25-17 victory.
 
Another set of back-to-back aces carried IUP to a 3-0 lead in the third set from Anagnostou, part of a 6-0 start to the set. From there, things back and forth to start the third set with IUP surging ahead at 9-7 on Concannon's sixth kill of the contest. The Vulcans took a 10-9 lead following an Alayja Floyd kill, prompting an IUP timeout in the third set.
 
Memisoglu jumpstarted a 5-0 run for IUP with a kill that leveled the score at 11, followed by an ace from Concannon and block assist from Anagnostou and Rylee Brown. Cal U showed resiliency in the frame, battling back again and knotting the score at 19 before moving ahead by one. The lead was short lived for the visitors as IUP rattled off the next four points for a 23-20 edge.
 
Anagnostou fired a kill down the alley to secure the sweep with a 25-22 set victory.
 
Up Next
IUP opens a three-match road swing on Friday, October 20 at Mercyhurst. First serve is set for 6:00 p.m. in Erie.
 
Follow
For up-to-date information, visit IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's volleyball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawks and @IUPVB.
 

---