ERIE, Pa. - Gannon Volleyball met the Pitt-Johnstown Mountain Cats for the first time since the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championship title match a season ago. It took the Lady Knights four sets but they prevailed once again over a strong Mountain Cat' squad, 25-21, 31-29, 21-25, 25-20.

Kelsey Ansec (Solon, Ohio/Solon) kicked off the first set with a statement shot that landed between the Mountain Cat defense. Gannon and Pitt-Johnstown were tied at three early on. The Mountain Cats began to pick up momentum with a 7-1 run to jump out to a 10-4 lead. Gannon head coach Matt Darling called timeout and regrouped the Lady Knights. Gannon responded with a 10-2 run of its own, taking a 14-12 lead. Tied at 20, Ashley Kerested delivered back-to-back kills, putting the Lady Knights up two. Gannon closed out the set with kills from Ansec and Wilhelm, taking the set, 25-21.

The Mountain Cats began set two with a 9-6 lead before the Lady Knights marched back once again. Ally Smith (Penfield, N.Y./Webster Schroeder) started a mini-run, scoring five-of-six points with a smash to the floor. Gannon claimed an 11-10 lead. The Lady Knights and Mountain remained in a tight battle past the standard 25-point set. Both teams had multiple chances at set point before two Lady Knight blocks ended the set in favor of Gannon, 31-29.

Pitt-Johnstown leaped out to a 9-1 lead in the third set. Lexi Johnson (Chandler, Ariz./Basha) helped spur a comeback with two kills. Gannon chipped away to get within 11-7. Kerestes subbed in and made an immediate impact, collecting three kills and tying the match at 15. Gannon took a 16-15 lead but couldn't hold it as Pitt-Johnstown took the third set, 25-21.

The fourth set went back-and-forth. Pitt-Johnstown took a two-point lead before Gannon swung back to the positive with kills from Rebekah Smith (Churchville, N.Y./Churchville-Chili) and Kerestes. Gannon led 11-9. Carolyn Knollman (Cincinnati, Ohio/Saint Ursula Academy) kept feeding the Lady Knights as she had a career-high 56 assists in the match. Knollman assisted seven-straight  Gannon points midway through the set, pushing the Lady Knights out to a 20-13 lead. Gannon finished out the Mountain Cats with a 25-20 set victory.

Wilhelm ended the match with a career-best 21 digs. She also added six kills in the match. Kerestes improved upon her career-high mark with 16 kills against the Mountain Cats. She hit at a .406 clip on the evening. Ally Smith (Penfield, N.Y./Webster Schroeder) issued her fifth double-double of the season with 10 kills and 17 digs.

Gannon improved to 12-3, 2-1 in the PSAC. Pitt-Johnstown fell to 12-4, 2-1 in conference play. Gannon improves to 10-3 all-time against the Mountain Cats.

The Lady Knights return to the Hammermill Center on Saturday, Sept. 30, against the Lock Haven Bald Eagles. The match is set for 2 p.m. Gannon controls the all-time series, 11-1.