First place in the PSAC West will be on the line this weekend when the Gannon University women's volleyball team host two big matches at Highmark Events Center.

The weekend will open Friday night when Gannon (12-4 overall) hosts preseason PSAC West favorite Clarion (16-1). They are tied for first place in division as both teams enter the match with 6-0 records in the PSAC West.

On Saturday afternoon, head coach Matt Darling's Golden Knights will host IUP (14-3 overall), which enters the weekend tied with Edinboro for third place in the PSAC West with a 4-2 mark.

In addition to first place in the Western Division, also at stake will be early playoff positioning as Gannon faces two of the conference's most talented teams.

Clarion and Gannon had some mixed success against each other in 2021. The Golden Knights won the first matchup 3-1, but Clarion swept Gannon in a second regular-season match before sweeping the Knights in the PSAC Tournament's championship match.

Even though the Golden Eagles won the PSAC title, the Golden Knights went on to win the NCAA Atlantic Regional and advance to the NCAA Division II Final Four. Clarion was eliminated in the regional.

Clarion has lost just one set in six conference matches this season, while Gannon has lost two sets in six PSAC West matches.

IUP's losses in the PSAC West have come to Clarion and Slippery Rock. The Crimson Hawks had won four matches in a row before losing to Clarion 3-1 on Saturday.

 
Friday's match: Clarion at Gannon, 7 p.m., Highmark Events Center

Saturday's match: IUP at Gannon, 2 p.m., Highmark Events Center
 

Last season:

Gannon was 1-2 against Clarion in 2021, winning 3-1 and losing 3-0 twice.

Gannon swept IUP in 2021 by scores of 3-0 and 3-0.
 

All-time series:

Gannon has a 32-38 record against Clarion.

Gannon has a 40-10 record against IUP.

 
PSAC standings
 
2022 records:

Gannon: 12-4 overall, 6-0 PSAC West (6-1 at home)

Clarion: 16-1 overall, 6-0 PSAC West (3-1 on road)

Indiana: 14-3 overall, 4-2 PSAC West (4-2 on road)

 
Coaches:

Gannon: Matt Darling, 16th season (364-140)

Clarion: Jennifer Herron, 16th season (353-156)

IUP: Lorelle Hoyer, first season (14-3)

 
Statistical leaders:
 
Gannon:
 
Sam Deinek (South Lyon, Mich./South Lyon East) 187 kills
 
Madde Blake (Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake Central) 134 kills, 153 digs, 26 aces
 
Hailey Koch (Littleton, Col./Dakota Ridge) 111 kills, 29 blocks
 
Maggie Greenfield (Woodstock, Ontario/Woodstock Collegiate Institute) 105 kills, 26 blocks
 
Sophia Glabus (Elmhurst, Ill./York) 80 kills, 36 blocks
 
Bengisu Arslan (Ankara, Turkey) 545 assists, 142 digs
 
Emma Hall (Lowell, Mich./Lowell) 287 digs, 20 aces
 
Lara Toruner (Istanbul, Turkey/Terakki Foundation) 132 digs, 21 aces
 
 
Clarion:

Julia Piccolino 210 kills, 147 digs, 31 aces

Cassidy Snider 134 kills (in 10 matches)

Amy Regrut 128 kills, 21 blocks

Lauren Aichinger 113 kills, 42 blocks

London Fuller 630 assists, 133 digs, 32 blocks

Abigail Selfridge 237 digs

Alyson Peters 36 blocks
 
 
Indiana:

Nicole Peterson 174 kills, 145 digs

Caroline Walsh 139 kills

Brooke Little 139 kills, 95 digs, 28 blocks

Lauren Valentic 131 kills, 51 blocks

Leah Henderson 608 assists, 131 digs, 33 aces

Bailey Flowerdew 183 digs