ERIE, Pa. - The Gannon Volleyball team started fast, winning the first set and taking down Southwest Division-leading Seton Hill Griffins on Friday (Oct. 13) night. The Lady Knights battled the Griffins to five sets, winning, 25-19, 23-25, 25-22, 23-25, 15-9.

Gannon and Seton Hill each tallied five of the first 10 points dished out in set one before the Lady Knights scored four-straight, aided by a Kelsey Ansec (Solon, Ohio/Solon) kill. Gannon led, 9-5. Gannon began to inch out and took control, 17-11, with the help of a Maggie Wilhelm (Euclid, Ohio/Lake Catholic) service ace and kill. The Lady Knights cruised to a 25-19 first set victory.

Set two started with the Lady Knights taking control early at 11-5. Seton Hill began to a comeback with a 9-3 run to tie the set at 14. Toni Leitshuh (Manhattan, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central) and Rebekah Smith (Churchville, N.Y./Churchville-Chili) helped Gannon reclaim the lead with kills to extend the lead back out to 18-15. The Griffins finished the set on a 10-5 run and nipped the Lady Knights, 25-23.

Ansec began set three with a kill. The Lady Knights scored the first three points before Seton Hill could get on the board. The Griffins went on a 5-1 run after Gannon's first three points for a 5-4 lead. Kerestes issued a kill to help the Lady Knights reclaim a 10-9 lead. The set went back-and-forth until Gannon started to create a couple-point separation. The Lady Knights led by three at 19-16 and controlled the set, 25-22.

Gannon and Seton Hill battled early in set four. The two teams were tied seven times before either team reached 10 points. Seton Hill edged out to an 18-14 lead midway through the set before Gannon swung back to tie the set at 21. The Griffins scored four of the last six points and won the set, 25-23.

The decisive fifth set went the way of the Lady Knights. Gannon and Seton Hill were tied at seven before three Kerestes' kills down the stretch sealed the match in favor of the Lady Knights. Gannon beat the Griffins in set five, 15-9.

Toni Leitshuh (Manhattan, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central) led the Lady Knights with a double-double. She had 13 kills and 10 digs. Maggie Wilhelm (Euclid, Ohio/Lake Catholic) also recorded a double-double. She put together a 10-kill, 13-dig effort.

Carolyn Knollman (Cincinnati, Ohio/Saint Ursula Academy) issued 47 assists while Sara Crandall (Cattaraugus, N.Y./Cattaraugus-Little Valley) had a team-high 23 digs.  

The Lady Knights move to 17-3 on the season, 7-1 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). Seton Hill dropped to 13-4, 6-2 in the conference.

Gannon continues its road trip on Saturday, Oct. 14. The Lady Knights head to California (Pa.) for a match with the Vulcans. The match is scheduled for 1 p.m. California (Pa.) holds a narrow 19-18 lead in the all-time season series.