IUP Drops Match at California; Heather Bauer Named PSAC West Player of the Week

Boxscore

The IUP volleyball team dropped a 3-1 decision at California but stayed in contention for a berth in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference playoffs when Slippery Rock lost to Lock Haven.

The 30-27, 30-23, 31-33, 30-26 loss to the Vulcans left IUP at 24-9 overall and 3-6 in the PSAC West.  The Indians are one game behind The Rock for the third and final playoff spot from the division.

IUP hosts Edinboro in its regular season finale on Saturday while Slippery Rock faces California.  The top three teams in each division qualify for the playoffs, which take place November 11-12 at the highest seeded team in the East.

IUP overcame a 29-24 deficit in the third game to stay alive in the match and then scored the first five points of the fourth game before California regained control of the match.

Brittany Gates led IUP 19 kills and nine blocks.  Kelly Wolff added 11 kills while Alicia Koches had 42 assists and 15 digs.

Heather Bauer, who earlier in the day was named the PSAC West Player of the Week, had four blocks.  Krista Nordby had six assists, 14 digs and two service aces.  Jill Bixler led IUP with 17 digs.

Bauer received the PSAC weekly award after contributing 26 kills and a hitting percentage of .667 as IUP posted wins over Clarion and New Haven.  She had 14 kills against Clarion and 12 against New Haven and had three blocks in both matches.