Box Score

CLARION, Pa. - The Gannon women's volleyball team fell to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division leading Clarion Golden Eagles, 3-1, at Tippin Gymnasium on Friday evening by set scores of 23-25, 25-23, 22-25 and 19-25. Following back-to-back losses, the Lady Knights fall to 16-12 on the season and 11-8 in PSAC action and the Golden Eagles improve to 29-2 overall and 18-1 in league play.

The Lady Knights were led by freshman Hannah Kren (Waukesha, Wisc. / Wisconsin Lutheran) and freshman Jordyn Thiery (Cincinnati, Ohio / McAuley) recorded double-doubles for the Lady Knights. Kren compiled 11 kills and 15 digs to go along with two block assists. Thiery registered 11 kills with 10 digs and two block assists as well. Sophomores Lynne Hibbard (West Barnstable, Mass. / Barnstable) and Kayla Knickerbocker (Richland, Mich. / Gull Lake) each recorded seven kills. Hibbard finished with three block assists and three digs.

Junior Taryn Graham (Huron, Ohio / Huron) led the Lady Knights' on the defensive end with a team-high 25 digs. Junior Megan Wendel (Aurora, Ohio / Kenston) compiled 39 assists to direct Gannon's offense, also recording 6 kills and 16 digs with a team-best .429 hitting percentage. Junior Emily Carver (Stow, Ohio / Theodore Roosevelt) collected eight kills on a .300 hitting percentage along with a solo block.

With the score tied 10-10 in the opening set, the Lady Knights went on a 4-0 run to take a 14-10 lead over the host Golden Eagles to force a Clarion timeout. Looking to regroup, Clarion pulled within two before Gannon recaptured its four-point lead off a Wendel kill and a service ace by Thiery. Clarion came within one of the Lady Knights' lead at 16-15 before a 3-0 run off a kill by Carver and Hibbard, as well as a Clarion attack error gave the Lady Knights a 19-15 edge. Clarion came fighting back once again with the score at 21-17, as the Golden Eagles went on a 5-1 run to tie the set at 22-22. Gannon took a 23-22 lead off a kill by Hibbard with the Golden Eagles finishing off the Lady Knights with three straight for a 25-22 win.

The Lady Knights bounced back in the second set to take a 3-0 lead over Clarion. Each team would go on runs with the Golden Eagles up first. Clarion went on a 7-0 run for a 7-3 lead. The two teams exchanged a point each before Gannon racked up six unanswered points for a 10-8 lead. To close out the set, the Lady Knights outscored the Golden Eagles, 12-6. Following three Clarion errors, the trio of Thiery, Kren and Wendel combined to give the Lady Knights a 25-23 win to tie the match at 1-1.

Gannon took an early 8-3 lead over the Golden Eagles in the third set to force a Clarion timeout. The Golden Eagles reorganized following their timeout, leading to a 9-1 run for a 12-9 lead. The Lady Knights pulled within two of the Golden Eagles on three occasions, which would be the closest they would come in the match. The Lady Knights final attempt at a rally came with the score at 23-18. Three Clarion errors allowed the Lady Knights to move within two, 23-21, before the Golden Eagles' Stewart recorded two of her game-high 22 kills for a 25-22 win and 2-1 lead in the match.

Trailing 6-3 in the fourth set, Gannon went on a 5-0 run to take an 8-6 lead over Clarion. With Clarion pulling within one, the Lady Knights pushed their lead to 11-8. The Golden Eagles ripped off five unanswered points for a 13-11 lead. The Lady Knights tied the set four times before Clarion rattled off six points for a 25-19 win in the set and 3-1 match win. Of the six final Clarion points, four came off Gannon errors.

Clarion finished the match with a .198 hitting percentage compared to the Lady Knights' average of .148.

Gannon will look to snap a two-game skid when they return to action at Indiana (Pa.) on Saturday, Nov. 9, at 5 p.m.