Box Score
Postgame Video

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University volleyball team extended its winning-streak to four matches Friday night with a 3-1 win over Indiana (Pa.) at Morrow Field House. The victory is SRU's first home-opening win since 2006.

The Rock (6-7, 4-1 PSAC) won the first set 25-22, but lost the second set 27-25 before rebounding with a pair of 25-23 wins in the third and fourth sets to secure the victory over the Crimson Hawks (11-3, 3-2 PSAC). The match featured 15 lead changes and 31 ties.

Leading the way for Slippery Rock was junior outside hitter Kaylee Smith and sophomore opposite Sarah Cadwallader. Both Smith, the reigning PSAC-West Athlete of the Week, and Cadwallader had 14 kills.

The impressive kill total was a career-high for Cadwallader while Smith also collected 19 digs to record her fourth double-double of the season.

Junior outside hitter Kristin Slavoski added nine kills for the Slippery Rock cause. Senior setter/defensive specialist Anna Bixler and senior setter Kim Wilson both had double-digit assist nights with 26 and 17 respectively.

Five different Rock players had at least 10 digs with junior outside hitter Alee Kromer leading the way at 30. Slippery Rock fought off the sharp Indiana attack with a total of eight blocks on the night. Junior middle hitter Lisa Bakaitis had a season-high of six blocks (two solo, four assisted).

The first set of the night saw SRU and IUP go back-and-forth until The Rock went on a 4-0 run to open up a commanding 20-14 lead. However, IUP would battle back and get to within two points (24-22) before a kill by Smith gave Slippery Rock the all-important first-set win.

After the 27-25 loss in the second set, Slippery Rock jumped out to a 10-4 lead in the third set and seemed poised for a quick win, but IUP would once again battle back to tie the match at 19-19 and eventually take a 23-22 lead before SRU proceeded to earn the next three points for the victory.

The fourth and final set was the closest of the night, as neither team could build a lead bigger than four points. With the score tied at 23-23, Slippery Rock managed to close the door on IUP for good with consecutive points capped off by another kill by Smith to conclude the night.

Slippery Rock will be back in action at home tomorrow against California (Pa.). Play is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.