ERIE, Pa. – That's more like it. For the second match in the row, the Gannon volleyball team swept a PSAC West opponent at home.

After Gannon pulled out an extremely competitive first set, 26-24, the Golden Knights won back-to-back sets by identical 25-20 scores to claim the three-set victory in a PSAC West showdown at GU's Highmark Events Center.

Coach Matt Darling's team has had three five-set wins in PSAC West action already this season, but the Knights have now had two sweeps in a row after beating Pitt-Johnstown in three sets last Saturday.

Journey Blevins (Richwood, Ohio/North Union) was the big hitter for Gannon, collecting 18 kills, including several crucial ones.

"It's a good start to a busy weekend," Darling said. "The match unfolded kind of like we have been – a little sluggish at the start. Journey Blevins (Richwood, Ohio/North Union) got us through it. Once our blocking started going, things really started to go our way."
 

Final score:
Gannon def. Edinboro 3-0 (26-24, 25-20, 25-20)

Records:
Gannon 14-3 overall, 6-1 PSAC West
Edinboro 9-9 overall, 4-4 PSAC West
 

What happened:

• The first set was a back-and-forth affair. Edinboro led 23-22 when junior outside hitter Sam Deinek (South Lyon, Mich./South Lyon East) got a crucial kill to tie the set at 23. Moments later, with the score tied 24-24, Edinboro's attack error and Gannon freshman middle blocker Lauren Atwell's (Mars, Pa./Mars Area) kill sealed the 26-24 win.
• Gannon led 17-14 in the second set when it ran off four straight points, including kills by Atwell and Blevins, as Edinboro never got closer than four points again.
• In the third set, Gannon led 16-15 before closing with a 9-5 run. Kills by Atwell and junior right side Hailey Koch (Littleton, Col./Dakota Ridge) sealed the third set and the sweep

By the numbers:

• In addition to leading Gannon in kills for the 15th time this season, Blevins turned in a strong .333 hitting percentage.
• Koch also had a big match with 11 kills and a .381 hitting percentage.
• Atwell had one of the finest matches of her freshman season as she compiled seven kills to go with a team-high five total blocks.
• Gannon's setters split time as Bengisu Arslan (Ankara, Turkey/Private Çankaya Doga Anatolian) had 19 assists and Marta Roicka (Warsaw, Poland/North Central Texas Academy) contributed 16.
• Junior libero Emma Hall (Lowell, Mich./Lowell) paced Gannon with 13 digs, while Roicka had 12 and senior outside hitter Madde Blake (Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake Central) added 11.

 
What's ahead:
Gannon will host another Erie County rival, Mercyhurst, on Saturday at 7 p.m. as the Golden Knights hold a Gray Out on Cancer Awareness Night.