CALIFORNIA, Pa. – Just four matches into the PSAC West season, the Gannon volleyball team already has experienced its share of drama.

For the second time in four conference matches, the Golden Knights lost the first two sets of a match and rallied for a five-set victory. On Saturday, Gannon lost the first two sets to California (Pa.) before rallying for a victory by scores of 26-28, 26-28, 25-21, 25-14, 15-10.

Head coach Matt Darling's team opened the PSAC West season on Sept. 19  by losing the first two sets at Slippery Rock before rallying for a five-set win.

The Knights did it again on Saturday as they improved to 11-3 overall and remained in a tie for second place with IUP at 1-3.
 
Final score:
Gannon def. California 26-28, 26-28, 25-21, 25-14, 15-10

Records:
Gannon 11-3 overall, 3-1 PSAC West
California 6-5 overall, 1-3 PSAC West
 
What happened:

• The first two sets were extremely close as Cal fought off two Gannon set points in the first set and one more GU set point in the second set. Each time, the Vulcans won 28-26.
• One of the key moments of the match came late in the third set. With Gannon leading 23-18, Cal responded with three straight points to cut the lead to 23-21. Darling called a timeout. GU then scored the final two points on kills by Journey Blevins (Richwood, Ohio/North Union) and Hailey Koch (Littleton, Col./Dakota Ridge).
• Gannon then dominated the fourth set on the way to forcing the fifth.
• The Golden Knights still had to pull off one more comeback. The teams switched sides in the fifth with Cal leading 8-5, but after the switch, the Knights outscored the Vulcans 10-2 the rest of the way.
• Gannon is now 7-0 in fifth sets over the past two seasons. The Knights were 5-0 in five-set matches in 2022, and they are 2-0 this season.

 
By the numbers:

• Gannon junior libero Emma Hall (Lowell, Mich./Lowell) had 26 digs, giving her 255 this season and 1,453 in her career. That moved her into fifth place on Gannon's career list as she moved past Katie Flower (1,440 digs, 2003-06).
• Junior outside hitter Journey Blevins (Richwood, Ohio/North Union) had a big match for Gannon with a team-high 26 kills. She also had 18 digs.
• Senior outside hitter Madde Blake (Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake Central) set career highs with 21 kills and 26 points. Blake played an all-around game with 12 digs and five service aces. She also received 24 serves without an error.
• Junior right side Hailey Koch (Littleton, Col./Dakota Ridge) and junior middle blocker Ali Sorenson (Tinley Park, Ill./Lincoln Way East) each had 10 kills.
• Junior setter Marta Roicka (Warsaw, Poland/North Central Texas Academy) came off the bench to lead Gannon with 39 assists. Sophomore Bengisu Arslan (Ankara, Turkey/Private Çankaya Doga Anatolian) had 22 assists.
• Freshman middle blocker Lauren Atwell (Mars, Pa./Mars Area) led Gannon with four total blocks.
• Gannon is now 5-1 in road matches this season.

 
Quotable:

"I'll start by giving Cal credit for playing really well and making it tough on us all evening," Darling said. "If it weren't for great performances from Madde, Journey, and Marta as well as a momentum-turning serving run by Delaney (Thomas), we probably would have been in even worse trouble.

"As I look at things at the end of September, things definitely do not appear the way I thought and hoped they would.  But, on the positive side, we've had some remarkable comeback wins that at least show us that we are resilient and have some grit.  We'll try to build on that."
 

What's ahead:

Gannon will play its next six matches at home, beginning with IUP on Friday, Oct. 6, and Pitt-Johnstown on Saturday, Oct. 7.