INDIANA, Pa. – The Gannon volleyball team suffered its third Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) loss of the season at Indiana (Pa.) on Friday night. The Crimson Hawks upset the Lady Knights in straight sets by scores of 25-20, 25-21 and 25-22.
All three of Gannon's conference losses this season have come on the road, having previously lost at Kutztown (Pa.) and Clarion. Heading into Saturday's match with California (Pa.), the Lady Knights will need to beat the Vulcans to move back into a tie for first place in the PSAC Western Division.
Coming off a five-set win over Point Park on Tuesday, the Lady Knights struggled to gain an offensive rhythm against the Crimson Hawks. Gannon committed 22 attack errors and hit just .158 for the match compared to .252 for IUP. Defensively, the Lady Knights finished with just four total blocks after entering the match averaging 2.6 per set.
An early run made the difference for the Crimson Hawks in the first set as a 6-0 stretch put IUP ahead 8-3. The Lady Knights pulled within two, but couldn't overcome the early deficit, falling by a 25-20 final.
It was more of the same in the second and third sets as Indiana (Pa.) put together short runs, gradually building a lead over Gannon. The Lady Knights held a 17-14 lead in the second set, but saw IUP out-score Gannon 11-4 down the stretch to take a 2-0 lead.
The third set was back and forth until again the Crimson Hawks pulled away with a 7-2 run that gave them a 16-12 lead. Gannon battled during the final points, holding off match point three times, but IUP earned the win on Lauren Hester's 12 kill of the night.
Lauren Sazama (St. Louis, Mo. / Oakville) had 14 kills and 12 digs for Gannon. Kara Cullen (Marstons Mills, Mass. / Barnstable) finished with nine kills and three block assists.
Courtney Cook (Middleburg Heights, Ohio / St. Peter Chanel) and Morgan Reineke (New Knoxville, Ohio / New Knoxville) were the only two other Lady Knights to record more than one kill with seven and six respectively. Taryn Graham (Huron, Ohio / Huron) finished with 11 digs.
Gannon fell to 19-8 overall with a 13-3 record in conference matches. Indiana (Pa.) improved to 10-20 this season with a 4-12 mark in PSAC matches.
As mentioned, the Lady Knights will stay on the road to face California (Pa.) Saturday October 29. The match is scheduled to start at 2 p.m.
For a complete box score from tonight's Gannon-IUP volleyball match, please click here.
