ERIE, Pa. – If there's one place where the Gannon volleyball team can find consolation after its four-set loss to rival Clarion, it's knowing that the Golden Knights can bounce back from a loss to the Golden Eagles.

Just use 2022 as an example.

Last season, Clarion swept Gannon at the Highmark Events Center in the teams' first of four matchups. Gannon went on to win the next three matches against Clarion and eventually won the PSAC West, PSAC Tournament, and Atlantic Regional titles.

Gannon won a marathon third set, 34-32, on Saturday in their Homecoming showdown at Highmark Events Center, but Clarion pulled out the other three sets by scores of 25-18,  25-22 and 25-19 to pull out the first matchup between the PSAC powers.

"Obviously we were hoping for a different outcome in the match today, but it was a fair result based on the performances of the two teams," Gannon coach Matt Darling said. "Clarion was better with the ball and on offense, and they were better prepared to win.  Hats off to them, and we'll move on to next week."

 
Final score: Clarion def. Gannon 25-18, 25-22, 32-34, 25-19
Records: Gannon 9-3 overall, 1-1 PSAC West; Clarion 12-2 overall, 2-0 PSAC West
 

What happened:

• The loss stopped Gannon's eight-match winning streak.
• Both teams returned many key players from the 2022 teams that met in the PSAC Tournament finals and Atlantic Regional title match. Gannon won both of those matches.
• After falling behind two sets to none, Gannon turned in a superb effort in the third set. Gannon had seven set points before finally winning the set on a block by Hailey Koch (Littleton, Col./Dakota Ridge) and Ali Sorenson (Tinley Park, Ill./Lincoln Way East) followed by a Clarion attack error.
• Clarion outhit Gannon in the match, finishing with a .247 hitting percentage to Gannon's .150 mark.

 
By the numbers:

• Three All-PSAC and All-Atlantic Region players led Clarion as outside hitter Cassidy Snider finished with 22 kills and Julia Piccolino had 14, while setter London Fuller compiled 49 assists
• Junior Journey Blevins (Richwood, Ohio/North Union) lead Gannon with kills for the fourth consecutive match as she had 17 kills. Senior outside hitter Madde Blake (Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake Central) finished with 13 kills.
• Marta Roicka (Warsaw, Poland/North Central Texas Academy) had 36 kills and 12 digs as Gannon's setter.
• Junior libero Emma Hall (Lowell, Mich./Lowell) racked up 21 kills to give her 221 on the season.
• Gannon is now 35-40 against Clarion in their all-time series.

 
What's ahead:
Gannon will visit Seton Hill on Friday at 7 p.m. The Golden Knights will play Clarion again on Oct. 21 at Clarion.