ERIE, Pa. - Gannon Volleyball began the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) portion of its schedule on Friday night at Shippensburg. The Raiders and Lady Knights battled to five sets with the Raiders ultimately taking the match, 25-23, 25-22, 22-25, 23-25, 16-18.

Shippensburg took control early in set one. The Raiders jumped out to an 8-5 lead before Gannon mounted a rally that included a Lydia Lukomski (Portville, N.Y./Portville Central) service ace and Kelsey Ansec (Solon, Ohio/Solon) kill. Gannon knotted the set up at nine. Gannon took its first lead of the set at 10-9 on a Carolyn Knollman (Cincinnati, Ohio/Saint Ursula Academy) service ace. From there the Lady Knights and Raiders stayed within a point of each other until Gannon took a 24-22 lead. Shippensburg's Samantha Webber had a kill to get the Raiders back within 24-23 but a Gabrielle Johnson service error gave Gannon the 25-23 set victory.

Gannon took control midway through set number two. The Lady Knights went up 13-7 on another Lukomski service ace. However, Shippensburg began to inch back. The Raiders got to within four at 23-19 on a Kendall Johnson kill. Gannon hung on to take the set, 25-22, on an Ashley Kerestes (Loves Park, Ill./Rockford Lutheran) kill.

Kelsey Ansec (Solon, Ohio/Solon) had the first point for Gannon in set three. Gannon lead 3-2 before Shippensburg went on a 9-0 run. The Raiders took an 11-3 lead before Gannon turned the tide and rattled off a 7-0 run of their own that included blocks from Lexi Johnson (Chandler, Ariz./Basha) and Rebekah Smith (Churchville, N.Y./Churchville-Chili). Shippensburg led 23-22  late in the set as Gannon tried to rally but fell just short, 25-22.

The fourth set started with kills from Johanna Gregory (Rochester, N.Y./Penfield) and Kerestes. Gannon took an early 9-5 lead. Gannon began to stretch the lead as Kerestes issued back-to-back-to-back kills for a 14-10 lead. Shippensburg finished the back-half of the set outscoring Gannon 15-9 and took the set 25-23.

The fifth and deciding set went the way of the Raiders. Shippensburg marched out to 9-6 lead midway through the final set. Gannon scored three-straight points to tie the set at nine, including an Ansec kill. The Lady Knights and Raiders pushed past the advertised 15-point set as the two teams were in a dog fight. Shippensburg clinched the set with a Forstburg service ace, 18-16.

Ally Smith (Penfield, N.Y./Webster Schroeder) led the lady Knights with a double-double, 14 kills and 19 digs. Kerestes collected a career-high 11 kills for the Lady Knights while hitting at a .444 clip. Sara Crandall (Cattaraugus, N.Y./Cattaraugus-Little Valley) led the Lady Knights in digs with 28.

Shippensburg ups its record to 8-5, 1-0 in the PSAC. Gannon falls to 10-3, 0-1 in conference play.  Shippensburg beat Gannon for just the third time in series history. Gannon owns a 15-3 all-time record.

The Lady Knights will continue their road trip on Saturday, Sept. 23, with a PSAC contest against Millersville. The match will begin at 1 p.m. Gannon owns a 13-2 record all-time against Millersville. Last season the Lady Knights recorded a 3-1 victory over the Lady Marauders.