The Rocket

Issue date: 10/26/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Nate Daymut The Rock's Anastasia Urbanik passes the ball during Tuesday's 3-2 victory over Lock Haven. The junior middle blocker, who had 14 kills, helped the Rock to its first win over Lock Haven in 10 years. [Click to enlarge]

Ten years is a long time.

The world has changed a lot in the past decade, but a 10-year-long streak was brought to an end by Slippery Rock's women's volleyball team on Tuesday night.

SRU (21-13 overall, 2-6 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West) beat Lock Haven (10-16, 3-5), ending a 22-match streak of futility that dated back to the teams' first square-off in 1997.

SRU didn't only break the long losing streak, but also they clinched its third consecutive 20-win season.

The victory also helped the Rock in its quest to earn a NCAA regional tournament berth.

Lock Haven was ranked No. 3 in the region entering the match and now sits just one game above the Rock in the PSAC.

Four players had double-digit kills to help the Rock storm back to upend Lock Haven.

Anastasia Urbanik, Jen Blasko, Louise Schultz and Andrea Campbell all had more than 10 kills each. Urbanik led the squad with 14.

True freshman Ann Bixler led the team with 23 assists. She is one of the 10 freshmen currently on SRU's roster.

"Making the adjustment from high school has not affected our play because our practices are so intense," Bixler said. "The practices help us prepare for playing through such a long season because everything is more intense at the college level."

Riding high after an important win over Lock Haven, SRU continued its momentum by defeating Point Park University (24-9) in a non-conference showdown.

The Rock managed a 3-1 victory on a very emotional senior night.

The team had a pre-game slide show to honor its seniors: Jenn Scott, Schultz and Campbell. Scott is listed as a redshirt junior, but will be graduating at the end of this year and was considered a senior by her teammates.

But while it was senior night, a junior shined the brightest. Urbanik once again led the team in kills (17) while adding 13 digs and three blocks.

Two of the seniors honored during the ceremony added double-digit kills in the victory. Schultz had 14 kills, while Campbell added 10. Bixler once again led the team in assists with 24.

The Rock has two games left on its regular-season schedule.

They will be at California (Pa.) University on Oct. 30, while their season finale will come at home against Indiana (Pa.) University on Nov. 3.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools