THE BASICSScore: at Seton Hill 3, Gannon 2
Set scores: (25-21, 25-23, 20-25, 19-25, 12-15)
Records: Gannon (24-6 / Seton Hill (30-4)
Location: Salvitti Gym – Greensburg, Pa.
The Short Story: Making their sixth consecutive appearance at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament, the Gannon women's volleyball team fell in a five-set quarterfinal marathon at No. 2 seed Seton Hill Tuesday evening at the Salvitti Gym. In a rematch of the regular-season finale, the Lady Knights and Griffins picked right back up where they left off. The Lady Knights captured the first two sets, 25-21, and 25-23, before the Griffins rallied for their first conference postseason victory. The Lady Knights dropped the next three sets, 20-25, 19-25, and 12-15.
THE BASICS- Sophomore
Hannah Kren (Waukesha, Wis. / Wisconsin Lutheran) led the Lady Knights with 25 kills along with 19 digs. Kren posted her 21st double-double of the season to bring her career total to 38. The sophomore has picked up a double-double in three of the four postseason matches she has competed in.
- Kren was one of three Lady Knights to post double figures in kills. Joining Kren were sophomore
Jordyn Thiery (Cincinnati, Ohio / McAuley) with 13 and junior
Kayla Knickerbocker (Richland, Mich. / Gull Lake) with 10.
- Five Lady Knights compiled 10 or more digs including senior
Taryn Graham (Huron, Ohio / Huron) with 31 followed by Thiery with 20, Kren with 19, senior
Megan Wendel (Aurora, Ohio / Kenston) with 12 and junior
Morgan Walters (Girard, Ohio / Girard) with 10. Graham's 31 digs matched her previous postseason career-high set last season against Clarion in the PSAC Quarterfinals.
- Wendel also generated 58 assists to secure her 13th double-double of the season. Appearing in her ninth postseason match, Wendel eclipsed 50 assists for the first time to establish a postseason career-high.
- Despite the outcome, the Lady Knights out-hit the Griffins. Both squads settled below .200 for the match, as the Lady Knights attacked at a clip of .195 compared to the Griffins' .189 hitting percentage.
- Compared to Seton Hill's 14.0-2.0 block advantage in the regular-season finale, the teams were pretty even at the net. The Griffins recorded an 8.0-6.0 block advantage this time around. The Griffins' Shelby Kyllo compiled two block solos and three block assists. For the Lady Knights, Kren finished with a block solo and block assist.
HOW IT HAPPENED- Gannon opened the match with a 25-21 victory over Seton Hill. The Lady Knights came out strong in the first set with a match-best .304 attack percentage with the Griffins posting a .176.
- Taking a commanding 2-0 lead in the match, the Lady Knights edged the Griffins in a tight second set, 25-23.
- The Griffins managed to regroup in the third set with a 25-20 victory to collect their first win of the match. The Griffins out-hit the Lady Knights, .216 to .186.
- In the fourth set, the Griffins tied the match at two each by picking up a 25-19 win over the Lady Knights. The visiting squad posted their lowest-hitting percentage of .125.
- With the momentum hanging in the balance, the Griffins managed to rally past the Lady Knights with a 15-12 win in the final set to capture their first conference postseason victory.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE- In the all-time series, Gannon moved to 10-3 against Seton Hill. The teams split the regular-season series.
- The matchup marked the first time the squads met at the PSAC Tournament.
REST OF THE PSAC TOURNAMENT FIELD- In the remaining PSAC quarterfinal matchups Tuesday, the lower seed was able to earn the upset.
- Following its win over Gannon, Seton Hill will serve as host of the PSAC Final Four Nov. 15-16, as the remaining top seed from the Western Division after No. 4 seed California (Pa.) swept No. 1 seed Clarion.
- In Eastern Division action, No. 4 seed Shippensburg also picked up a sweep over No. 1 seed Lock Haven, while No. 3 seed West Chester earned a 3-1 win over No. 2 seed and reigning conference champion Pitt-Johnstown.
WHAT'S NEXTThe Lady Knights will wait for the next set of NCAA Atlantic regional rankings to determine the team's spot in the regional tournament to be held Nov. 20-22, at the region's top-seed. In the latest NCAA Atlantic regional rankings, the Lady Knights were ranked third.
