BLOOMSBURG, PA- For the first time in program history, the Bloomsburg University volleyball team claimed a spot in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament as they Huskies swept Kutztown, 3-0, Friday night. The Huskies improved to 12-16 on the year and 6-8 in conference play while the Golden Bears dropped to 7-9 for the season and 3-11 in the PSAC East.
The Huskies swept the floor as they dominated in all three sets against PSAC rival Kutztown. Bloomsburg won the first set 25-21 before rolling to a 25-17 set two victory. The Huskies closed out the match with 25-17 win the third and final set.
For the match, senior
Grace Giza (Plymouth, Pa./Wyoming Valley West), senior
Mary Kate Mooney (Royersford, Pa./Pope John Paul II), and sophomore
Liz Bopp (Ebensburg, Pa./Central Cambria) led the Huskies in kills. Giza and Mooney each racked up nine kills while Bopp added eight for the Huskies. Giza hit .471 for the match with just one error on 17 attempts to go with her nine kills and Bopp finished the day with a .429 hitting percentage as she had just two errors on 14 attempts and eight kills. Senior
Mia Nicholes (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin) hit an impressive .714 for the match as she finished with five kills on seven attempts and no hitting errors. She filled out her stat line with five total blocks and a pair of service aces.
Graduate student
Alyssa Cianciulli (Royersford, Pa./Pope John Paul II) controlled the defense for BU as she posted a match-best 33 digs.
Sophomore Adyan Espinal dished out a team-best 23 assists for the hust while collecting eight digs and one ace while senior
Bryn Stek (Ambler, Pa./Upper Dublin) finished the day with 15 assists and six digs.
For the match, the Huskies hit .216 as a team with 43 kills on 125 attempts and just 16 errors in the three sets. Bloomsburg held Kutztown to a .024 hitting day with just 24 kills and 21 errors on 125 attempts. Bloomsburg finished the day with nine total blocks.
After an exciting game, the Huskies will advance to the PSAC Tournament for the first time in BU history. Bloomsburg will face off against the No. 1 seed, East Stroudsburg, in East Stroudsburg, Pa. on Tuesday, November 16. Match time is set for 7:00 pm.
