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THE BASICS
Score: at Mercyhurst 3, Gannon 2
Set scores: (29-27, 25-23, 17-25, 13-25, 13-15)
Records: Gannon (13-1, 6-1 PSAC) | Mercyhurst (10-4, 5-2 PSAC)
Location: Erie, Pa. – Mercyhurst Athletic Center
The Short Story: The rivalry is alive and well. The Gannon women's volleyball team and Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) crosstown-opponent Mercyhurst faced off Tuesday evening at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center. The Lady Knights entered the match unbeaten in their first 13 matches to open the season. Capturing the first two sets by the scores of 29-27 and 25-23, the Lady Knights dropped the next three sets by the scores of 17-25, 13-25 and 13-15 to collect their first loss of the season.
 
THE BASICS
- Registering her sixth double-double of the season, sophomore Hannah Kren (Waukesha, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran) led the Lady Knights with 18 kills and 19 digs.
- Senior Taryn Graham (Huron, Ohio/Huron) recorded a season-best 30 digs. Sophomore Lauren Beck (Chardon, Ohio/Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin) led the Lady Knights at the net, posting a block solo in the fifth set along with five block assists to finish a career-high 6.0 blocks. Beck also collected eight digs.
- Senior Megan Wendel (Aurora, Ohio/Kenston) picked up 46 assists.
- The Lakers outhit the Lady Knights at a clip of .188 to .079 in the match. In the final two sets, the Lakers posted attack percentages of .333 and .300, respectively.
- The match featured 22 tied scores and eight lead changes. The first set saw the biggest movement with 10 tied scores and five lead changes.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The rivalry match opened with a marathon in the first set, as the Lady Knights held on for a 29-27 victory. The Lakers raced out to a 5-1 lead to open the set. Trailing the Lakers by five, 10-5, the Lady Knights managed to pull within two on a 9-6 run to force a Lakers' timeout. The Lady Knights scored four of the next six points to tie the set at 18 all. The teams battled point-for-point down the stretch until a kill by Kren followed by a Lakers' bad set sealed the 29-27 win.
- The Lady Knights captured a 2-0 lead in the match after taking the second set by the score of 25-23. The Lakers earned an early lead once again, taking a 4-1 edge. The Lady Knights stormed back quickly to tie the set at five all with a 4-1 run of their own including three Lakers' errors. After tying the set at 10-10, Kren handed the Lady Knights the lead for good with a kill. The Lakers managed to pull within one of the Lady Knights nine times until sophomore Jordyn Thiery (Cincinnati, Ohio/McAuley) recorded the set point off a set by Wendel.
- The Lakers took an early lead in the set again, which the Lady Knights were never able to overcome in the 25-17 loss. Five times the Lady Knights came within one of the Lakers until Kren recorded a kill to push the set score to 11-10. Stringing together four unanswered points, the Lakers used the run to create separation in the win by outscoring the Lady Knights 14-7 to close the set.
- Another early Lakers' lead put the Lady Knights behind to open the fourth set. The Lakers were able to tie the match at two sets each with a 25-13 win in the fourth set. To open the set, the Lakers worked their lead to 10-3. The Lakers were able to grow their lead to double figures, 17-7, following a rotation error and an attack error by the Lady Knights. Taking a 22-9 lead, the Lakers captured their widest lead of the evening at 13 points. The Lady Knights did not go away without a fight led by junior Kayla Knickerbocker (Richland, Mich./Gull Lake) with back-to-back kills.
- The fifth set was truly a point-for-point showdown for the win. The Lakers and Lady Knights were unable to create more than a two-point lead. Trailing for most of the set, the Lady Knights tied the set at 9-9 before taking their first and only lead of the set off consecutive Lakers' attack errors. The Lakers capitalized on two Lady Knight errors to recapture the lead, 12-10. Despite Kren's two attacks, the Lakers were able to hang on for the 15-13 win to hand the Lady Knights their first loss of the season with a 3-2 match decision.
 
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The Lady Knights moved to 36-26 in the all-time series against Mercyhurst.
- Entering the match, the Lady Knights matched the best start for a GU squad since the 2003 season when the team opened with a 13-0 record.
 
QUOTABLES |  HEAD COACH MATT DARLING
"This was a classic battle between rivals, and unfortunately we fell a couple of points short. Truthfully, though, I have to admit that Mercyhurst played the better match tonight. They had great offensive balance and killed more balls. So, though I am so, so proud of my team's effort tonight, our execution needed to be better against an inspired opponent tonight."
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Remaining on the road, Gannon will face Clarion Oct. 3, before heading to Indiana (Pa.). The Lady Knights open the weekend at Tippin Gymnasium against the Golden Eagles of Clarion at 7 p.m.