EAST STROUDSBURG – The East Stroudsburg University volleyball team looked to be in the driver's seat leading 2-0 in the PSAC quarterfinal match over Bloomsburg, but the Huskies rallied to force the Warriors into a five-set victory on Tuesday night at Koehler Fieldhouse. The set scores were 25-13, 25-21, 22-25, 19-25, 15-12.
The Warriors (18-9) won their 10th consecutive match to advance to the semifinals for the second straight season. Also with the victory, ESU will host the semifinal matches and championship game on Friday and Saturday inside Koehler Fieldhouse.
ESU will battle the No. 3 seed in the West, Clarion, on Friday at 7:30 after the Golden Eagles swept two-seeded Edinboro tonight.
For the most up to date information, visit psacsports.org/tournaments/?id=112
Notables
- Kaylee LoPresto led the Warriors with a team-high 13 kills to go along with 14 digs, three assists and an ace
- Ali Finch was just shy of a triple double as she finished with eight kills, 46 assists and 16 digs as well as three aces and three total blocks
- Emily Meredith registered a team-high 28 digs to go along with six assists
- Kenzie Guimont posted 12 kills, nine digs and a stellar .417 attack percentage
- Jasmine Mooney and Sydney Stone each recorded 11 kills
- ESU notched 61 kills across the five sets compared to 48 for Bloomsburg
How it Happened
- The Warriors fell behind 5-2 to open the first set before scoring 13 of the next 17 points to grab a 15-9 advantage that forced Bloomsburg into a timeout. ESU kept it rolling out of the break as they went on to take the set, 25-13, for a 1-0 lead in the match.
- ESU and Bloomsburg traded points for a majority of the second set as neither team was able to grab much of a lead before the Warriors went ahead, 21-17. The Huskies were able to get within two at 22-20, but following a timeout by ESU, the Warriors closed out the set, 25-21, for a 2-0 edge over Bloomsburg.
- With their season on the line, Bloomsburg answered the bell by grabbing a 13-8 lead in the fourth set which forced ESU into a timeout. The Huskies kept their foot on the gas out of the break as they extended their advantage to 21-13 before another timeout by the Warriors. After ESU got within four points at 22-18, Bloomsburg finished off the set, 25-22, to cut the Warriors' lead in the match to 2-1.
- As the teams swapped points to begin the fourth set, Bloomsburg used a 5-1 run to take a 16-12 lead that caused ESU to call a timeout. However, the Warriors failed to regain their form from earlier in the match as the Huskies stole the set, 25-19, to even the match at 2-2.
- With a trip to the PSAC semifinals on the line, neither team gave an inch to open the final set before the Warriors fell behind, 9-8. Out of a timeout, ESU used a pair of attacks and errors by the Huskies to go ahead 12-10. That was the closest Bloomsburg would get the rest of the way as an ace by Mooney, a kill by Finch and block by Kaitlin Bruchhauser and Stone sealed the 15-12 victory for the Warriors.
Up Next
ESU welcome Clarion to Koehler Fieldhouse on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. for the second semifinal matchup.
