West Chester Ends Lady Raiders' Nine-Match Win Streak, 3-1

Oct. 10, 2006

WEST CHESTER, Pa. - The Shippensburg volleyball team's hopes for a third PSAC Women's Volleyball Championship appearance in the last four seasons were slightly diminished on Tuesday night as the team dropped a very close, four-game match at West Chester, 3-1. Game scores were 31-33, 30-23, 28-30, 28-30.

The loss not only ends the Lady Raiders' (18-10, 2-4 PSAC East) nine-match winning streak, but also gives West Chester a two-match lead over Shippensburg for the third and final conference tournament seed from the Eastern Division.

The Golden Rams (13-8, 4-2 PSAC East) edged out a two-point victory in game one before the Lady Raiders were able to take a convincing seven-point win in game two. However, just like game one, West Chester was able to edge out two-point victories in games three and four to take its 12th victory in the last 13 matches against the Lady Raiders.

The last win for Shippensburg against West Chester was on Oct. 19, 2004, but prior to that, the team's last win came back on Oct. 31, 2000.

Shippensburg was led by senior Missy Pierce (Valparaiso, Ind./West Aurora (Ill.)) who totaled her 13th double-double of the season with 18 kills and 19 digs, both team-highs while freshman Colleen Toomey (Reading/Muhlenberg) totaled her fifth double-double with 11 kills and 13 digs.

Meanwhile, freshman Kali Antolik (Johnstown/Westmont Hilltop), who was named PSAC Eastern Division Player of the Week on Tuesday, continued her impressive play with a career-high 14 kills. Over the team's last six matches, she has averaged 11 kills per match while playing in all 20 games and averaging 3.15 kills per game.

Last week's PSAC Eastern Division Player of the Week, freshman Cindel Young (McConnellsburg/Broadfoarding Christian Academy), had 10 kills Tuesday night while sophomore libero Kelsi Hoffman (York/West York) added 13 digs.

With four conference matches remaining, Shippensburg finds itself two games behind West Chester and one ahead of Millersville who lost in three games at Kutztown this evening.

Following this weekend's PSAC crossover at home, the Lady Raiders conclude PSAC Eastern Division play against Kutztown (6-1 PSAC East, 2nd), East Stroudsburg (5-0 PSAC East, 1st), Cheyney (0-6 PSAC East, 6th) and Millersville (1-5 PSAC East, 5th). Luckily for Shippensburg, all four of these matches are at home in Heiges Field House.

The Lady Raiders open play in this weekend's PSAC crossover against Edinboro on Friday night at 7:15 p.m. On Saturday, the team faces Lock Haven at 1:00 p.m., and Clarion at 4:00 p.m.

- Lady Raider Volleyball -