Cheyney Box Score
West Chester Box Score

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University volleyball team split a pair of PSAC Crossover matches at home on Friday. SRU (7-11, 5-5 PSAC) began the day by defeating Cheyney 3-0 (25-4, 25-6, 25-18) before falling 3-2 to West Chester (23-25, 26-24, 25-20, 23-25, 12-15).

The Rock featured a balanced attack in its 3-0 win over Cheyney (1-12, 0-9 PSAC). Sophomore outside hitter Lexi Arnold and freshman outside hitter Caroline Houston each recorded five kills while both sophomore opposite Sarah Cadwallader and senior middle blocker Keira Peoples added four kills.

Five Rock athletes made their season-debuts vs. the Wolves as well. Freshman setter Alexandra Fleagle had a match-high 19 assists. Freshman defensive specialist Natalie Chieffallo added a team-high six digs. Freshman setter/defensive specialist Morgan Olson collected one ace and one assist while fellow freshman Alissa Kelty, a middle hitter, added two kills. Senior middle blocker Alex Heller also contributed three kills.

Slippery Rock had one of its best matches of the year in terms of serving as The Rock totaled 15 aces. Houston paced the squad with four aces while Arnold and freshman outside hitter Miranda Gray both added three aces.

The Green and White had little trouble in the first two sets against the Wolves, winning 25-4 and 25-6. However, Cheyney would prove hard to finish off in the third as the Wolves hung with The Rock throughout the match until SRU pulled away late for the 25-18 win.

SRU's 3-2 loss to West Chester (14-5, 4-5 PSAC) was filled with back-and-forth action. Cadwallader led The Rock, who are now 0-3 on the season in matches that last five sets, with a career-high 20 kills against the Golden Rams to go with her 24 digs in the double-double effort.

Junior middle hitter Lisa Bakaitis also had a strong game with 10 kills and five assisted blocks. Arnold and junior outside hitter Kristin Slavoski helped out on the attack with nine kills each also.

Senior setter/defensive specialist Anna Bixler had a team-high 31 assists while junior outside hitter Alee Kromer posted a team-best 36 digs. Freshman outside hitter Lauren Rojek chipped in two blocks (one solo, one assisted).

After losing the first set to West Chester 25-23, The Rock regrouped and won the second set 26-24. The third set saw Slippery Rock take advantage of a 13-7 run that put them ahead 23-16 en route to the 25-20 win. However, West Chester was able to win sets four and five 25-23, 15-12 respectively for the match-win.

Slippery Rock will conclude off the PSAC Crossover tomorrow at home against Kutztown. Play is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m.