ERIE, Pa. - The Gannon volleyball team fell to Clarion in five sets Friday night at the Hammermill Center. The Golden Eagles won by scores of 23-25, 26-24, 25-22, 18-25, and 15-11 in the key Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West match. 

After splitting the first four frames, the teams came out even early in the fifth set, as the game was tied at five. Three straight Clarion kills put the Eagles ahead and GU could not catch up. Gannon cut the deficit to one point on three occasions, but CU answered each time. Two late kills by Kellie Bartman aided the Eagles on their way to a four-point victory. 

The teams played evenly throughout the contest, with Gannon striking first. Tied at 23, Maire Prybyl (Mars, Pa./North Catholic) set up Kara Cullen (Martsons Mills, Mass./Barnstable) for a kill and then Morgan Reineke (New Knoxville, Ohio/New Knoxville) recorded an ace to take the opening frame.
The Knights had a golden opportunity to go up two sets, but Clarion rallied from a 23-19 deficit to win the second frame on a Nicole Andrusz kill. The Eagles pulled away late in the next set, compiling 13 kills in the frame. 

GU controlled the fourth set, going up 20-14 and rolling to a seven-point win. Gannon hit a team-high .227 in the frame, totaling 14 kills. 

In the match, Reineke led with 17 kills and 11 digs. Lauren Sazama (St. Louis, Mo./Oakville) recorded 12 kills and 14 digs and Prybyl handed out 49 assists and collected 13 digs. Clarion hit .178, while the Knights compiled a .132 percentage. 

Gannon dropped to 17-6 overall and 8-4 in the PSAC West. Clarion is 21-5 overall and 11-1 in the league. The Knights host Slippery Rock Saturday, October 17. The conference match is scheduled for a 2 p.m. start at the Hammermill Center. 

For a complete box score from Friday's Clarion-Gannon match, click here.