EAST STROUDSBURG – The East Stroudsburg University volleyball team wrapped up the ESU Invitational on Saturday at Koehler Fieldhouse by earning a 3-1 (19-25, 25-23, 25-20, 25-14) win over Kutztown followed up by a 3-0 (25-22, 25-15, 25-13) victory over Caldwell to finish the tournament with a 3-1 record.
Featured on the All-Tournament Team for the Warriors was senior Ali Finch and sophomore Kaylee LoPresto.
Notables
- Finch earned the honors after posting 10 kills, 76 assists, 21 digs and five block assists across the two matches
- LoPresto was solid on both the offensive and defensive ends today for the Warriors as recorded 24 kills and 33 digs
- Despite not earning any tournament honors, senior Anna Salasky was excellent for the Warriors in her seven sets played as she recorded a team-high 33 kills for the day and 27 digs
- The Warriors earned their first 3-0 sweep of the season in their final match of the tournament against Caldwell
How it Happened – Match One
- The Golden Bears raced to a 7-1 lead, but the Warriors would fight back to within a single point at 13-12. Unfortunately, ESU count not take the lead, as KU finished the set on a 10-6 run to grab the first set, 25-19. ESU started gain some momentum late in the set, earning five of the last eight points, before KU could get the 25th and final point.
- This time it was ESU who began the second frame strong, taking five of the first six points. ESU would not relinquish the lead, holding on to the tightly fought set. With ESU leading 17-15, the Warriors took control in the driver's seat with a five-point lead at 21-17, but KU would get within a single point of ESU at 22-21 after a 4-0 run. With the match tied at 23-23, ESU would pick up the final two points, including a kill by Kenzie Guimont on set point, as the Warriors held on to defeat Kutztown in the second set, 25-23.
- Neither team could gain a significant advantage on the scoreboard until the Warriors put together a quick 5-0 sprint to take a 13-9 lead to force a Golden Bear timeout. ESU would keep the foot on the pedal, extending its lead to six at 20-14. KU looked to get back into the set with a late 4-1 run to cut the deficit to 21-18. After an ESU timeout, the Golden Bears would get as close as 22-20, but ESU earned the final three points in the frame to hold off the comeback attempt. The Warriors took the third set, 25-20 to earn a 2-1 advantage.
- Kutztown opened the fourth set by taking a 7-5 lead but the Warriors respond with an 11-2 run to take a 16-9 advantage. Kutztown would cut the ESU's lead to as little as five before a strong finish down the stretch propelled the Warriors to 25-15 set win and 3-1 match victory. The Warriors posted their best hitting percentage of the match in the final set at .385.
How it Happened – Match Two
- In a tightly contested first set, neither team captured a substantial lead as the scored was tied at 11-11 midway through. Caldwell would eventually grab a 17-15 advantage before the Warriors responded with a 6-1 run to take a 21-18 lead which forced the Cougars to call a timeout. Caldwell pulled within one at 23-22 but the Warriors held on to defeat the Cougars, 25-22.
- The second set was the Warriors best of the match as they posted a .333 hitting percentage and never trailed. Caldwell could not be denied though as they pulled within one point at 15-14 but the Warriors answered with a 5-0 run to take a 20-14 lead which forced the Cougars into a timeout. Out of the stoppage, the Warriors maintained momentum as they took the second set, 25-15 to earn a 2-0 advantage in the match.
- Caldwell played ESU tough for the first half of the third set as they went on a 3-0 run to bring the score to 11-9. However, the Warriors would respond with 9-0 run of their own, which featured four kills by LoPresto, to take a 20-9 lead. Following a timeout from Caldwell, the teams traded rallies the rest of the way as the Warriors held on to win set, 25-13 and match, 3-0.
Up Next
The Warriors are back in action next Saturday, when ESU heads to Philadelphia for the Holy Family Tri-Match. ESU battles Holy Family at 11:00 a.m. before taking on Molloy at 1:00 p.m.
