EAST STROUDSBURG – Senior Sam Dunphy and senior Sarah Smith paced the Warriors with a combined 21 kills as the East Stroudsburg University women's volleyball team stretched its winning streak to nine following a 3-1 victory at home on Saturday against Lock Haven.
 
ESU (21-4, 11-1) matched its most wins in a season since 2006, when the Warriors finished with a 21-14 overall record. The 11 wins for ESU in PSAC action this season are the most in program history. ESU also snapped a 26-match losing streak against Lock Haven as the Warriors defeated the Bald Eagles for the first time since 2002.
 
The Warriors also clinched a spot in the 2019 PSAC Volleyball Championships with an eight-game lead over Kutztown with seven matches left during the regular season. This is the first time since 2000-01 that ESU has qualified for the conference tournament in consecutive seasons.
 
Dunphy finished with a match-high 11 kills for ESU to go along with seven digs. Smith tallied 10 kills, eight digs, and two service aces for the Warriors. Sophomore Caylinn Davis added eight kills for the Warriors, while freshman Rachel Cain added a match-high 27 assists.
 
The lead would change hands several times in the first set as ESU gained some momentum following a kill by Smith. The Warriors rallied to win five of the next six points to take a 20-13 advantage. The run featured a pair of kills and a solo block from Davis.
 
Lock Haven rallied to trim the deficit to 21-16 before ESU closed the set with a 4-0 run to secure the 25-16 victory. Dunphy and Smith tallied consecutive kills followed by a block from Smith and redshirt junior Trea-sure Ketter.
 
Leading 5-4 in the second set, ESU used a 5-0 run to put some space between the two teams on the scoreboard. The rally would be capped by back-to-back kills from Smith and Davis. The Warriors took control of the set leading 13-7 as six unanswered points increased the advantage to 19-7.
 
A block by Davis and Ketter in the middle of a 3-0 rally helped to stretch the ESU lead to 22-8. Dunphy delivered the final three kills of the set to secure the 25-13 victory for the Warriors and give ESU a 2-0 lead in the match.
 
Lock Haven would lead from start to finish in the third set as the Bald Eagles forced a fourth set following a 25-19 victory. Trailing 21-11 in the set, ESU looked to try and complete the comeback as sophomore Kenzie Guimont highlighted a 3-0 run with a pair of kills. Freshman Erin Lutz later delivered an ace for the Warriors to make it 22-16.
 
The Warriors trimmed the deficit to 22-18 following a Lock Haven timeout but would be unable to complete the comeback as Kristen Nealon and Breanna McDonald blocked an attack by ESU to secure the 25-19 victory.
 
With the fourth set tied 6-6, ESU went on a 5-0 run to take an 11-6 advantage. Leading 14-9 in the set, the Warriors scored 11 of the next 12 points, including a match-clinching 7-0 rally, to secure the 25-10 victory. Smith added four of her kills and one service ace during the run for ESU to clinch the match.
 
ESU hits the road next weekend as the Warriors travel to Shepherd for a 7 p.m. matchup on Nov. 1. The Warriors close the weekend with a 1 p.m. contest against Shippensburg before returning home on Nov. 8 to host Millersville at 7 p.m.