CHARLESTON, WV. – East Stroudsburg University continued its strong early-season form with two straight set victories Saturday afternoon against West Virginia State (25-22, 25-19, 25-21) and Point Park University (25-18, 25-23, 26-24). The Warriors improve to 6-2 on the season, showcasing depth and efficiency across the board.
How it Happened: Match 1
The Warriors controlled the match from start to finish, taking all three sets with balanced play and strong defensive efforts. ESU posted a team hitting percentage of .215, totaling 43 kills and only 14 errors on 135 attempts. The team also out-blocked the Yellow Jackets 14 to 10 and recorded 66 digs in the match.
Key Players
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Anna Coulter led the way offensively with 13 kills on a .385 hitting percentage, contributing a team-high 15.5 points.
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Allison Birtcil added 11 kills and hit an impressive .375, while also contributing 13.0 total points.
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Kata Kovacs distributed the ball effectively, dishing out 22 assists and contributing 11 digs and 2 aces.
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Romina Martinez added 10 kills and 11 digs, contributing 10.0 points.
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Marta Leeland anchored the backcourt with a team-high 19 digs and chipped in 3 assists.
Team Highlights
• ESU's front line was dominant at the net, recording 14 total blocks, including 5 solo efforts.
• The Warriors' serve game was efficient, with 6 aces.
• The defensive unit was sharp, allowing just a .154 hitting percentage by West Virginia State.
Set Breakdown
• Set 1: A tight battle saw ESU edge out WVSU 25-22 behind timely kills and strong net defense.
• Set 2: The Warriors pulled away mid-set, holding WVSU to just 19 points.
• Set 3: A late push from the Yellow Jackets was halted by key plays from ESU to seal the sweep 25-21.
How it Happened: Match 2
Set 1: ESU set the tone early with a 25-18 win, maintaining control through strong serving and blocking.
Set 2: Point Park pushed back, but the Warriors edged them 25-23 with clutch play late in the set.
Set 3: ESU closed out the match 26-24 in a tightly contested third set that featured three lead changes and five ties.
Offensive Leaders:
• ESU delivered a balanced offensive performance, hitting .243 as a team with 38 kills on 107 total attacks.
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Anna Coulter led the way with a match-high 12 kills on a blistering .455 hitting percentage. Also, a milestone was made as
Anna Coulter hit her 1000th kill in this match.
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Allison Birtcil chipped in with 8 kills and a .231 hitting percentage.
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Romina Martinez added 9 kills, providing valuable front-row contributions.
Playmaking & Serving:
• Setter
Kata Kovacs orchestrated the offense with precision, recording 22 assists while adding a team-high 2 service aces.
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Kyra Bishop also contributed 13 assists, showcasing the team's dual-setting system.
• As a team, ESU landed 7 aces, including 2 each from Flynn and Leeland.
Defensive Highlights:
• The Warriors' defense held Point Park to a .099 hitting percentage, anchored by
Marta Leeland's 14 digs.
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Anna Coulter led the blocking effort with 5 blocks, while
Kyra Bishop added 3 blocks.
• In the back row, five different players registered 5 or more digs, highlighting a solid team defensive effort.
Up Next
The Warriors are set to host their ESU Tri-Match Friday, September 19 – Saturday, September 20. The Warriors will play on their home court for the first time this season as they take on Southern New Hampshire on Friday at 7:30 PM. They then have a pair of matches on Saturday against Queens at 11:00 AM and Georgian Court at 6:30 PM.
