CLARION, Pa. – The Gannon volleyball team lost a closely-contested match to defending Atlantic Region champion Clarion, falling on the road by a 3-0 score Friday night. The Eagles won by scores of 25-23, 25-23 and 25-20.

Each set featured at least three lead changes during the night as the two regional powers battled back and forth. However, late surges during the three sets eventually handed Gannon its second Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) loss of the season.

The first set featured short runs by each team, with the score tying at 11 different points during the match. With Gannon leading 21-19, a quick 4-0 run from Clarion proved to be the difference maker. The Lady Knights tied the score at 23 with kills from Kara Cullen (Marstons Mills, Mass. / Barnstable) and Lauren Sazama (St. Louis, Mo. / Oakville), but the Eagles would record kills on the next two points to close out the set.

The back-and-forth affair continued in the second set with each team posting 4-0 runs to eventually tie the score at 13. A Clarion error, followed by kill from Sazama and a solo block from Claren Harris (South Milwaukee, Wis. / South Milwaukee) gave Gannon a 16-13 lead. After 10 straight side-out points, the battle for momentum would swing toward Clarion with three straight points, tying the score at 20. Clarion would out-score Gannon 5-3 down the stretch to take the 2-0 lead.

With the third set tied an 19, Clarion used a 5-0 run to eventually close out the 3-0 win. Clarion hit .281 with 13 kills during the final set to repay the 3-0 sweep that Gannon handed Clarion earlier this season.

For the match, the Lady Knights hit .170, with 49 digs. Clarion held advantages in kills (46-35) and total blocks (9-5).

Gannon was led by Sazama, who finished with a .256 hitting percentage on 16 kills. The junior also tallied nine digs and one block assist. Cullen and Morgan Reineke (New Knoxville, Ohio / New Knoxville) each added six kills. Taryn Graham (Huron, Ohio / Huron) had a match-high 15 digs and Megan Wendel (Aurora, Ohio / Kenston) dished out 24 assists in the effort. Harris had two solo blocks and three block assists.

Clarion was paced by Kellie Bartman's 13 kills and Kaitlyn Anderson's 10. Amanda Gough had six kills, 34 assists and seven digs.

Clarion improved to 14-10 overall with a 12-2 mark in conference. Gannon suffers is second PSAC loss this season to hold a 12-2 record. The Lady Knights are now 17-7 overall this season.

Gannon stays on the road for a 2 p.m. match tomorrow at Slippery Rock. For a complete box score from tonight's Gannon-Clarion volleyball match, please click here.