Box Score

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University volleyball team captured the first two sets of Saturday's match against California (Pa.), but the Vulcans managed to comeback and win the next three sets for a 3-2 victory.

SRU (6-8, 4-2 PSAC) won sets one and two 25-20, 25-21 before losing sets three through five 25-13, 25-21 and 15-10 respectively. The loss snaps Slippery Rock's four-match winning streak.

Junior outside hitter Kaylee Smith led The Rock with 14 kills and 22 digs. Sophomore opposite Sarah Cadwallader was second on the team with seven kills while sophomore outside hitter Lexi Arnold and junior middle hitter Lisa Bakaitis both delivered six kills. Bakaitis also totaled five blocks (two solo, three assisted).

Senior setter Kim Wilson and senior setter/defensive specialist Anna Bixler had 19 and 15 assists respectively.

Joining Smith in the double-digit dig club was junior outside hitter Alee Kromer with 28.

Slippery Rock found itself in a 7-1 hole to begin the first set before battling back on a 16-10 spurt to tie the set at 17-17, forcing California (Pa.) to take a timeout.

The stoppage in play would do little to derail the SRU momentum as The Rock proceeded to score seven of the final 10 points en route to the 25-20 win.

Slippery Rock never trailed in the second sets and won 25-21. However, California would steal the momentum away for SRU in the third set, winning the frame 25-13.

The Rock jumped out to a 10-5 lead in the fourth set and seemed poised to finish off the match before a 10-3 Vulcan run put Cal. Up for good at 15-13 on their way to a 25-21 win.

A rough start to fifth set put SRU in an 8-4 hole it would never recover from. Despite pulling to within two points (11-9), The Rock would ultimately lose 15-10 after a 4-1 run by California to end set and the match.

Slippery Rock will look to get back to its winning ways next Friday at Mercyhurst. Play will start at 7 p.m.