[Kutztown Press Release] GOLDEN BEAR VOLLEYBALL TEAM TO COMPETE AT PSAC PLAYOFFS

[Josh Leiboff]

November 1, 2006

 

GOLDEN BEAR VOLLEYBALL TEAM TO COMPETE AT PSAC PLAYOFFS

 

KUTZTOWN, PA - Kutztown University's (KU) women's volleyball team will travel to Lock Haven University to take part in the 2006 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships this Friday and Saturday, Nov. 3-4.  

 

            Kutztown, which won the PSAC East regular season title, is the number one seed in the PSAC East.  Joining the Golden Bears from the East are East Stroudsburg (#2) and West Chester (#3).  In the west, Lock Haven is the number one seed by way of its PSAC West division title.  California (PA) (#2) and Slippery Rock (#3) complete the field from the PSAC West.

 

            As Division champions, KU and Lock Haven both receive first-round byes.  Action will begin with the quarterfinals on Friday, when California (PA) takes on West Chester at 10:00 a.m.  That will be followed by the second quarterfinal at 12:30 p.m., between East Stroudsburg and Slippery Rock.  The winner of California (PA)/West Chester will take on Kutztown at 5:00 p.m. in the first semifinal and the winner of East Stroudsburg/Slippery Rock will take on Lock Haven at 7:30 p.m.

 

            The two semifinal winners will compete for the PSAC Championship on Saturday afternoon at 3:00 p.m.  All games will be played at LHU's Thomas Fieldhouse.  Tickets are $7 for adults and $2 for students per day.  Students from PSAC schools will be admitted free with ID.  

 

            Kutztown (23-6, 9-1 PSAC East) makes its seventh appearance in the PSAC Playoffs after winning its second-straight and fourth PSAC East title in five years.  The Golden Bears' 269 service aces set a new team record and their nine PSAC victories ranks second all-time.  They also ranked second in the PSAC in digs per game.  The Golden Bears are led by head coach John Gump, who's in his tenth season and earned his 400th career coaching victory and 200th at KU this season.  KU is led by the school's career record holder in kills Sarah Brandon (sr. Gibsonia/Pine-Richland).  The right-side hitter led the team in kills with 415, bringing her career total to a PSAC East record 1,792, and her 4.32 kills per game ranked first in the PSAC.  She also recorded 113 digs and 125 blocks in 2006.  Outside hitter Dani Witherite (sr. PA Furnace/State College) became the school's career leader in digs with 1,456 and service aces with 146.  Her 429 digs this season are second on the team, while her 29 aces ranks third.  She also is second on the team in kills (278).  Setter Austin Kinney (so. Landisville/Hempfield) has 925 assists and moved into third all-time with 2,154 career assists.  She is second on the team with 45 aces, to go along with 327 digs.  Libero Nicole Biuso (jr. S. Setauket, NY/Ward Melville) leads the team in digs (444) and service aces (49).  Middle hitter Shelby Bunting (sr. Green Lane/Pennridge) has notched 112 kills, 46 digs and 88 blocks.  Middle hitter Erin Waters (jr. Waymart/Western Wayne) has contributed 173 kills and 129 blocks, including her team leading 29 solo blocks.  

 

            Kutztown's semifinal opponent will be either California (PA) or Lock Haven.  The Golden Bears lost in five games to California on Oct. 14, the team's only meeting in 2006.  KU swept West Chester in a pair of 3-0 decisions on Sept. 19 and Oct. 21.  Against the other playoff teams this season, KU was 1-1 vs. East Stroudsburg (W, 3-1; L, 2-3), 0-1 vs. Lock Haven (L, 0-3) and 0-1 vs. Slippery Rock (L, 1-3).  

 

            California is the defending PSAC champion, having won last year's title at KU.  The Lady Vulcans have three total championships (1991, 1992, 2005).  Lock Haven has five crowns (1996, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004).  East Stroudsburg has won for PSAC titles, but none since 1987 (1979, 1985-87).  Slippery Rock has two titles (1984, 1993).  Kutztown and West Chester have never won the PSAC championship.

 

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Josh Leiboff
Kutztown University Sports Information
Phone: (610) 683-4182
Fax: (610) 683-4676
Email: leiboff at kutztown.edu
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