In the first home game of the season, the Slippery Rock University volleyball team lost 3-2 to Alderson Broddus University (A-B) in five sets Tuesday night. After starting the season 7-1 this loss drops SRU’s record to 7-6 on the year.
The Rock won the first set of the game 25-20 on the strength of a six-point to start the set and a four-point run to end it.
A-B won a close second set 25-23 with two different five-point runs and SRU took set three 25-20, going on a six-point run when the score was tied 16-16.
The green and white were unable to put away A-B, losing the fourth set 25-21 and the fifth and final set 15-12.
Slippery Rock head coach Laurie Lokash said her team struggled to put A-B and win the game away after the third set.
“I think the challenge is just execution. We had a lot of unforced errors,” Lokash said. “If you want to become better as a team you’ve got to fix mistakes and we’re not doing that.”
The Rock was led in kills by junior Leah Jones who tallied 16 and also added 16 digs for a double-double.
Sophomore Lamija Alisic recorded a double-double of her own with 14 kills and 12 digs. Freshman Kelsey Boyle was third on the team with 11 kills.
Sophomore Courtney Oberlander led the green and white in digs with 25 and sophomore Haley Defibaugh was the leading passer with 56 assists. Defibaugh also added 15 digs.
The Rock held the advantage over A-B in kills, 61-56, and assists, 60-55. The team were even in digs with 80 a piece and A-B had more blocks, ninw to Slippery Rock’s six.
SRU started the season with a 7-1 record but after Tuesday’s loss the team’s record dropped to 7-6. Lokash said the recent ‘drop off’ is due in part to a lack of consistency.
SRU will open Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) play with weekend when they travel to Gannon to compete against four PSAC-East team over the weekend.
The Rock will play Lock Haven (7-3) and Pitt-Johnstown (6-2) on Friday before facing off against Millersville (6-1) and Shippensburg (9-2) on Saturday.
