WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL MATCH PREVIEW
GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS AT CLARION GOLDEN EAGLES
DATE/TIME: Friday, Oct. 4, 6 p.m.
ARENA/LOCATION: Waldo S. Tippin Gymnasium | Clarion, Pa.
LIVE STATS
LIVE VIDEO
 
GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS AT PITT-JOHNSTOWN MOUNTAIN CATS
DATE/TIME: Saturday, Oct. 5, noon
ARENA/LOCATION: UPJ Sports Center | Johnstown, Pa.
LIVE STATS
LIVE VIDEO
 
THE GANNON-CLARION SERIES
Clarion leads 40-37
Last Meeting: Nov. 18, 2023, PSAC Championship – Gannon won 3-2 (25-21, 17-25, 25-19, 24-26, 15-10) at Shippensburg
 
THE GANNON-UPJ SERIES
Gannon leads 20-4
Last Meeting: Nov. 14, 2023, PSAC quarterfinals – Gannon won W, 3-0 (25-17, 25-20 25-19) at Highmark Events Center

 
RECORDS
Gannon: 9-5 overall, 2-0 PSAC West
Clarion: 8-4 overall, 2-0 PSAC West
Pitt-Johnstown: 13-1, 1-0 PSAC West
 
ERIE, Pa.  – It will be an intense matchup of archrivals when the Gannon women's volleyball team visits Clarion on Friday evening.
 
The Golden Knights and Golden Eagles, two of the premier programs in the PSAC for years, have an intense recent history that includes back-to-back showdowns in the PSAC Championship match. Gannon won both of those matches, but Clarion emerged with the 2023 NCAA Division II Atlantic Region title and advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight.
 
Gannon (9-5 overall) and Clarion (8-4 overall) are tied for first place in the PSAC West standings with 2-0 records as the Golden Eagles prepare to host the Knights on Friday at 6 p.m. at Waldo S. Tippin Gymnasium. Both teams have played tough non-conference schedules in preparation for the rigors of the PSAC season.
 
As if that weren't enough, Gannon will have to turn around and face a talented Pitt-Johnstown team on Saturday at noon in Johnstown. The Mountain Cats are 13-1 overall and 1-0 in the PSAC West. UPJ will host Edinboro on Friday night.
 
Coach Matt Darling's team opened the PSAC West with back-to-back victories over IUP and Seton Hill, including a five-set comeback win against the Griffins.
 
Gannon will have to find a way to deal with Clarion All-American Cassidy Snider, who was named PSAC West and Division II Athlete of the Week after recording 28 kills against California (Pa.) and 30 kills against Edinboro in back-to-back matches.
 
Schedules:
Gannon  
Clarion
UPJ
 
Rosters: Clarion
UPJ
 
Head coaches:
Gannon's Matt Darling 
Clarion's Jennifer Herron
UPJ's Justin Haupt 
 
 
Golden Knights to Watch:

Senior middle blocker Ali Sorenson (Tinley Park, Ill./Lincoln Way East):  The 6-foot-2 senior is off to a hot start. She ranks second on the team with 132 kills, and she leads the Knights with a .377 attack percentage, 172 points, and 66 total blocks.
 
Senior right side Hailey Koch (Littleton, Col./Dakota Ridge): The 6-foot-3 senior leads Gannon with 146 kills, including 20 in GU's comeback win over Seton Hill. She had a .576 attack percentage in that match.
 
Junior setter Bengisu Arslan (Ankara, Turkey/Private Çankaya Doga Anatolian): She has been running the Gannon offensive effectively. Arslan leads Gannon with 527 assists and ranks second with 129 digs.
 

Scouting Clarion:
The Golden Eagles lost some talent to graduation, but they have plenty back, led by All-American outside hitter Cassidy Snider. She has 236 kills and an average of 5.41 kills per set. No other Clarion player has more than 60 kills. Kylie Barto paces Clarion with 297 assists, while Marisa Markou has 135.
 

Scouting Pitt-Johnstown:
UPJ has a talented outside hitter in Lualis Alvarado. She leads the Mountain Cats with 214 kills and 235.5 points. Adiamar Beaz has 549 assists and is a talented server with 33 aces. Gabriella DeRenzo has 286 digs.