THE BASICSScore: Gannon 3, at Slippery Rock 0
Set scores: (25-21, 25-12, 25-18)
Records: Gannon (22-2, 15-2 PSAC) / Slippery Rock (16-10, 9-8 PSAC)
Location: Morrow Field House - Slippery Rock, Pa.
The Short Story: The Gannon women's volleyball team earned their ninth consecutive win with a sweep of host and Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division opponent Slippery Rock Saturday afternoon at the Morrow Field House. The Golden Knights secured their 12th straight win over The Rock by set scores of 25-21, 25-12 and 25-18. Sophomore
Hannah Kren (Waukesha, Wis. / Wisconsin Lutheran) earned her 15th double-double of the season with a team-best 15 kills along with 15 digs.
THE BASICS- Kren recorded a team-best 15 kills along with 15 digs to record her 15th double-double of the season, as she collected her 11th double-double in 12 matches. Kren added two block solos.
- Junior
Lynne Hibbard (West Barnstable, Mass./ Barnstable) registered 11 kills to reach double figures in the category for the seventh time this season, marking the third occasion in the last four matches.
- Senior
Megan Wendel (Aurora, Ohio / Kenston) registered 41 digs and six kills with a .857 attacking percentage.
- On the defensive side, senior
Taryn Graham (Huron, Ohio / Huron) and sophomore
Jordyn Thiery (Cincinnati, Ohio / McAuley) each posted 16 digs to lead the Lady Knights. Kren added 15 digs on the afternoon.
- At the net, the Lady Knights held an 8.0 to 2.0 block advantage. Senior
Emily Carver (Stow, Ohio / Theodore Roosevelt) led the team, compiling two block solos and two block assists.
- The match included six tied scores and three lead changes.
- The Lady Knights recorded an attack percentage above .300 in the first two sets to finish with a .336 hitting average. The Rock started at .250 before falling to .121 and .071, respectively, for a .148 overall percentage.
HOW IT HAPPENED- The Gannon Lady Knights opened with a 25-21 win in the opening set. With the score tied at nine, Kren, Hibbard and Wendel each recorded a kill to take a 12-9 lead. The Rock pulled within one of the Lady Knights, 14-13, before GU went on a 4-1 run capped by a kill from Thiery. Kren handed the Lady Knights' their biggest lead of the set at 22-17 with a kill. Freshman
Kelsey Ansec (Solon, Ohio / Solon) sealed the 25-21 win with a kill set by Wendel.
- The Lady Knights posted their best hitting percentage of the day in the second set, attacking at a clip of .375. Taking a 2-0 lead in the match, the Lady Knights secured a dominant 25-12 win. Holding a 4-7 lead, the Lady Knights erupted for a 9-2 run including the first five points off SRU errors for a 15-6 lead in the set. The Lady Knights scored five of the last six points in the set including their final two off costly SRU errors off a bad set and an attack error for the 25-12 victory.
- In the final set, the Lady Knights and The Rock were knotted at three before the visitors went on a 8-1 run for an 11-4 lead. In the stretch, Kren and redshirt freshman
Beka Smith (Churchville, N.Y. / Churchville-Chili) each posted two kills. Overcoming the Lady Knights' lead, The Rock pulled within two, 14-12. With a 21-17 lead, the Lady Knights secured four of the final five points for a 25-18 victory and sweep of The Rock. Carver recorded two of the Lady Knights' last three points in the victory-clinching set.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE- Securing their 12th straight win over Slippery Rock, the Lady Knights improved to 28-10 against Slippery Rock. The victory marked the sixth straight season-series sweep.
- The Lady Knights remain in sole possession of second place in the PSAC Western Division.
- This season, the Lady Knights have clinched 16 of their 23 total wins by the form of a sweep.
QUOTABLES | HEAD COACH MATT DARLING"We were pretty good on offense today, and that is the main thing that put us in position to win. We had a good passing day, and that is where it all starts for us."
WHAT'S NEXTGannon returns to the Hammermill Center for their next three home matches. The Lady Knights open the week against rival Mercyhurst Oct. 28, at 7 p.m. The weekend slate begins against Indiana (Pa.) Oct. 31, at 7 p.m. followed by PSAC Western Division leader Clarion Nov. 1, at 2 p.m. Saturday's match will mark Senior Day for the Lady Knights.
