CLARION, Pa. – One thing is certain about the 2023 Gannon volleyball team: They're never out of a match.

The Golden Knights again showed their resilience with yet another comeback, five-set victory on Saturday, this time against a powerhouse Clarion team that had beaten Gannon in four sets earlier this season.

Down 2-1 on Saturday afternoon, Gannon rallied to win the fourth and fifth sets for a 23-25, 25-22, 16-25, 27-25, 15-8 victory at Waldo S. Tippin Gymnasium.

Head coach Matt Darling's Gannon team has been invincible in five-set matches over the past two seasons. The Golden Knights are now 6-0 in five-set contests this season and 11-0 in five-set matches over the past two years. That total includes four times this season when the Knights have lost the first two sets and rallied for a 3-2 win.

The Knights even fought off four match points in the fourth set to stay in Saturday's contest.

"We're happy to get a win in another highly competitive Gannon-Clarion match," Darling said. "There were stretches where it looked like we were in trouble, but the team continued to battle until things went our way.  I'm really proud of our resilience today."

Gannon has won nine matches in a row to improve to 18-3 overall as the Knights moved into a first-place tie with Clarion in the PSAC West with a 9-1 mark.

This season is beginning to resemble 2022 when Gannon lost to Clarion at home in their first matchup and then went on a 17-match win streak while claiming the PSAC Tournament and Atlantic Regional titles.

Gannon's last loss this season was four-set setback to Clarion at Highmark Events Center on Sept. 23.

Final score:
Gannon def. Clarion 3-2 (23-25, 25-22, 16-25, 27-25, 15-8)
Records: Gannon 18-3 overall, 9-1 PSAC West; Clarion 19-3 overall, 9-1 PSAC West
 
What happened:

• Clarion twice led by a set after winning the first set and the third set.
• The Golden Eagles seemed to be in control of the match when they led 23-18 and 24-21 in the fourth set. Gannon then faced three consecutive set points and won each of them, thanks to back-to-back kills by outside hitters Madde Blake (Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake Central) and Journey Blevins (Richwood, Ohio/North Union), and a setting error by Clarion.
• The Golden Knights faced another set point at 25-24, but Blevins converted three consecutive kills as Gannon won the set 27-25.
• That pushed the match to the fifth set where the Golden Knight have been oh, so good. A Blevins kill gave Gannon an 8-5 lead when the teams switched sides in the fifth set. Gannon then rolled from there as four consecutive Clarion attack errors led to a match point at 14-7 before right side hitter Hailey Koch (Littleton, Col./Dakota Ridge) put the match away with a kill.

 
By the numbers:

• Blevins (19 kills), Koch (17 kills), Blake (14 kills) led the Golden Knights' hitters. Blevins had a double-double with 13 digs.
• Bengisu Arslan (Ankara, Turkey/Private Çankaya Doga Anatolian) saw her most extensive playing time since an early season injury as she led Gannon with 39 assists.
• Emma Hall (Lowell, Mich./Lowell) once again paced the Gannon defensive effort with 27 digs.
• The Knights were very strong in their blocking, as freshman Lauren Atwell (Mars, Pa./Mars Area) had five total blocks, Ali Sorenson (Tinley Park, Ill./Lincoln Way East) added four, and Koch and Blake each had three.
• Outside hitter Cassidy Snider led Clarion with 21 kills, and setter London Fuller had 53 assists.
• The Knight have won 17 of their past 18 matches.

 
What's ahead:
Gannon will play two matches at home next weekend when it hosts California (Pa.) on Friday, Oct. 27, and Seton Hill on Saturday, Oct. 28.