NON-CONFERENCE WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS AT DAEMEN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS 3-1 (23-25, 25-18, 25-23, 25-22)
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AMHERST, N.Y. – The Gannon volleyball team capped a highly successful five-match road swing by winning its fifth match in a row on Tuesday evening.
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After losing the first set in disappointing fashion, the Golden Knights rallied to win the final three sets as they defeated the Daemen Wildcats 3-1 in a non-conference match at Charles L. & Gloria B. Lumsden Gymnasium.
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"I'm really proud of the team for working through things after a disappointing finish to the first set," Gannon coach
Matt Darling said. "It wasn't our best offensive performance, but our blocking was good and we had some clutch play from Journey (Blevins) down the stretch. Â Ava (Gainer) and Sydney (Wake) gave us a real lift tonight."
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In addition to being Gannon's fifth road win in a row, Tuesday's victory was GU's sixth consecutive overall as the Knights improved to 13-5 on the season. Daemen dropped to 11-6.
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How it happened:
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Gannon appeared to be rolling toward a victory in the first set after taking a 23-18 lead. However, Daemen rallied to win the final seven points of the set, including six on kills.
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The Knights led 18-16 in the second set before a service error by Daemen and back-to-back blocks by the duo of
Journey Blevins (Richwood, Ohio/North Union) and
Lauren Atwell (Mars, Pa./Mars Area) helped Gannon pull away. GU won the set 25-18 with the help of three late attack errors by the Wildcats.
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The third set was close the entire way before Atwell's kill off an overpass gave Gannon a 25-23 victory and a 2-1 lead.
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Gannon led 23-21 in the fifth set before Blevins had kills on two of the final three points to seal the match victory.
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By the numbers:
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Blevins, a senior outside hitter, led Gannon with 14 kills, while sophomore outside hitter
Carissa Treser (Sewickley, Pa./North Allegheny) and senior middle blocker
Ali Sorenson (Tinley Park, Ill./Lincoln Way East) added nine apiece. Sorenson led GU with a .412 attack percentage.
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Hailey Koch (Littleton, Col./Dakota Ridge) contributed seven kills, while Atwell had five. In a reserve role, sophomore
Sydney Wake (Massillon, Ohio/Jackson) had three kills and two block assists, while freshman
Ava Gainer (Wheeling, W.Va./The Linsly School) added four assists and five digs.
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Atwell had 10 total blocks, including two solo blocks and eight block assists. Gannon finished with 15 total blocks to Daemen's seven.
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Junior setter
Bengisu Arslan (Ankara, Turkey/Private Çankaya Doga Anatolian) dished out 30 assists and went over the 2,500-assist mark for her career.
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Senior libero
Emma Hall (Lowell, Mich./Lowell) had 25 digs, while Blevins added 10. Hall added six assists.
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What's ahead:
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Gannon will begin a streak of six home dates out of the next seven matches when it hosts California, Pa., on Saturday at noon at Hagerty Family Events Center.
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