BLOOMSBURG, Pa. – The Bloomsburg volleyball team captured a 3-1 victory over Kutztown inside Nelson Field House Friday evening.

The Huskies had four players finish the night with double-digit kills and five with nine or more. Emily Jackson (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills) was the leader offensively, ending the match with a team-high 11 kills and a team-best .391 hitting percentage while adding six total blocks (three solo) from the middle blocker spot. Liz Bopp (Ebensburg, Pa./Central Cambria), Jenna Dubosky (Summit Hill, Pa./Panther Valley) and Marlee Johnson (Newville, Pa./Big Spring) each had 10 kills for Bloomsburg. 

The Huskies' defense was vigilant at the point of attack, recording 12 blocks on the night, marking the fifth time in the last seven contests with double-digit blocks. 

How It Happened: 
Bloomsburg (8-14, 4-5 PSAC East) jumped out to the early lead, taking the first set 25-19 with a well-rounded effort. 

Early momentum favored the Huskies as Dubosky kick-started a 4-0 run with a kill followed by her first of three service aces on the night. Jackson complimented the scoring run with a pair of kills for a 7-2 advantage.

Bit-by-bit, Bloomsburg inched ahead of the Golden Bears (8-14, 1-8 PSAC East) to hold a 19-11 edge deep into the set. Kutztown responded with a 3-0 run to cut the deficit to five as the two sides subsequently traded sideouts. Dubosky capped off the first set with an emphatic kill to move the match into the next frame. 

The Golden Bears worked their way back into the contest in the second set by jumping out to a 4-1 lead. That lead was chipped away by resourceful plays from the Huskies, forcing an early timeout from Kutztown before grabbing the 6-5 advantage from a Johnson kill. 

The visitors settled into the second frame with a 5-0 run to take an 18-10 lead. Out of a timeout, Jackson and Shayna Warfel (Lancaster, Pa./Penn Manor) helped Bloomsburg cut the deficit to 18-14 before the Golden Bears used their second timeout of the set. The Huskies fought back by winning six of the next eight points to force a tie at 20-20, but Kutztown answered with four of the next five to tie the match.

The Huskies looked to reestablish control in the match, doing so by setting the tone early in set three. Bloomsburg jumped out to a 10-point advantage for a 15-5 lead because of a balanced attacking presence and fundamental defense. Allison Saalfrank (Perkasie, Pa./Pennridge) became the second player in program history to record 40 aces with back-to-back points to help solidify the run.

The Golden Bears clawed their way back into the third frame with a 6-0 run to cut the Huskies' lead to four. Bloomsburg gathered its composure following a timeout and raised the lead to 19-11. Kutztown could not piece enough together to make a comeback effort as the Huskies rolled into the fourth set with a 2-1 lead.

Bloomsburg put its foot on the gas in the final frame to help close the match. The Huskies held the visitors to a match-low .065 hitting percentage while adding five blocks to put an end to any late push.

Dubosky closed out the night for Bloomsburg with three kills in the Huskies final four points to capture the set, 25-16, and the match overall.

Saalfrank became just the second player in team history with 40-plus service aces in a season and needs four more for sole possession of the program record. Dubosky finished the night with 20 or more digs for the second time in her career and this season.

Elise Adelman (Pataskala, Ohio/Watkins Memorial) once again put in a tremendous effort for the Huskies, closing the night with 39 assists, 15 digs, three blocks and an ace.

On The Horizon:
The Huskies wrap up the weekend against East Stroudsburg at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 28.