BLOOMSBURG, Pa. - In just its second season as a varsity program, the Bloomsburg University women's volleyball team reached double figures in victories on Friday night as the Huskies knocked off visiting Kutztown University in four sets at the Nelson Field House. After winning six matches in its inaugural season a year ago, Bloomsburg improved to 10-21 overall and 5-13 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Central Division while the Golden Bears dropped to 9-19 overall and 3-15 in the PSAC Central. With the victory, the Huskies also clinched second place in the divisional standings with one match left in the regular season.

The first three sets were back-and-forth with the Huskies winning the first and third by the scores of 29-27 and 26-24, respectively. Kutztown took the second set by a 25-22 margin. Bloomsburg dominated on both ends during what proved to be the final set as it earned the victory by posting a 25-13 in the fourth as the Huskies swept the season series against the Golden Bears. In the fourth, the Huskies hit a match-high .276 and held the Golden Bears to a negative hitting percentage after the visitors hit over .300 through the first three sets.

Bloomsburg recorded a season-high 56 kills on the night while hitting a season-high .239 as a team. The Huskies also tied a program record with 13 service aces - four from sophomore Sydney Buell (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury), three from sophomore Mary Kate Mooney (Royersford, Pa./Pope John Paul II), and two from sophomore Rachel Hutchinson (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra Area). Bloomsburg also established a new school record for most kills in a single set as it used 20 kills in the opener on Friday night to jump out to a 1-0 lead in the match.

Buell stuffed the box score against the Golden Bears as she led the way with 13 kills and 23 assists while adding four service aces, five digs, and two assisted blocks. Mooney also recorded a double-double as she chipped in 12 kills and 13 digs to go along with her three service aces. Sophomore Mia Nicholes (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin), arguably, had her best performance of the season as she added a season-high nine kills while hitting a team-high .381 on 21 attempts. She chipped in three digs and an assisted block. Sophomore Grace Giza (Plymouth, Pa./Wyoming Valley West) and freshman Julia Burcin (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) posted eight kills apiece on the night with both also adding three total blocks.

Sophomore Bryn Stek (Ambler, Pa./Upper Dublin) had three kills in four attempts from the setter position while also registering 22 assists on the night. Sophomore Autumn Altland (East Berlin, Pa./Delone Catholic) joined Stek with three kills. Junior Alyssa Cianciulli (Royersford, Pa./Pope John Paul II) was sensational defensively as she posted a match-high 34 digs on the night while chipping in six assists and an ace offensively. The junior libero continues to lead the PSAC in both total digs (730) and digs per set (6.52).

Kutztown was led by Holly Owen who had 21 kills and nine digs. Erin Patterson (14) and Lauren Jackson (10) were also in double figures in kills for the Golden Bears.

The Huskies will conclude the 2019 season on Saturday evening, November 16, when they entertain East Stroudsburg University at the Nelson Field House. Start time is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.