EAST STROUDSBURG – Despite a career performance by East Stroudsburg University junior middle blocker Anna Coulter, the ESU volleyball team fell to Shepherd, 3-1 (21-25, 26-24, 25-23, 27-25), on Friday night at Koehler Fieldhouse.

The Warriors (10-3, 1-1 PSAC East) saw their eight-match winning streak snapped, while the Rams (10-4, 2-0 PSAC East) improved to 2-0 in conference play.

In addition to winning the first set, ESU reached set point in the second and fourth sets, but Shepherd rallied late to secure the 3-1 victory.

Notables

• Coulter registered 20 of ESU's 53 kills on 39 attempts (.359) and also contributed six total blocks. Her 20 kills mark a career-best at the midpoint of her junior season. Since 2002, her 20 kills are tied for the seventh-most in a single four-set match.
• Taylor Haan posted a double-double with 41 assists and 12 digs.
• Freshmen Kelly Crites and Allison Birtcil were close to double-doubles as well. Crites recorded 10 kills and nine digs, while Birtcil added eight kills and 13 digs.
• Leonor Chambel led the defensive effort with 19 digs.

How It Happened

• Set 1 (21-25): The opening set saw eight ties, with neither team able to pull away. With the score tied at 17-17, ESU surged ahead, closing the set on an 8-4 run to take a 1-0 lead.
• Set 2 (26-24): ESU jumped out to a 12-5 lead in the second set. Shepherd fought back within three at 12-9, but the Warriors pushed their lead to 16-9. Shepherd then went on a 9-4 run to cut the deficit to two at 20-18. ESU reached set point at 24-20, but Shepherd stormed back, scoring six consecutive points on two kills, three attack errors, and an ace to steal the set at 26-24.
• Set 3 (25-23): The Warriors again took an early lead, 8-2. ESU held the advantage until Shepherd tied the score at 20-20. The Warriors were three points away from victory at 22-20, but Shepherd scored four of the final five points to take a 2-1 match lead.
• Set 4 (27-25): ESU built a 6-1 lead early. Shepherd tied the set at 14-14, and the teams traded points from there. With the score tied at 20-20, ESU went on a 3-0 run to go up 23-20. Shepherd countered with its own 3-0 run, tying it at 23-23. ESU reached set point at 24-23 on a Birtcil kill, but Shepherd finished the set by scoring four of the final five points to secure the win.

Up Next The Warriors will look to start a new winning streak on Saturday when they host Shippensburg at 1 p.m. at Koehler Fieldhouse.