WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL MATCH
GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS Def. CLARION GOLDEN EAGLES 3-2 (29-27, 20-25, 28-30, 25-15, 15-12)
 
CLARION, Pa. – The Gannon volleyball team just kept coming back on Friday.

Finally, after more than two-and-a-half hours in five long sets, the Golden Knights pulled out a 3-2 victory over archrival Clarion at Waldo S. Tippin Gymnasium.

"It seems like we play five sets every time we're in that gym," Gannon coach Matt Darling said. "It was another competitive match against Clarion, and this one was as exciting as, if less elegant than, some of the recent ones. Even so, we're happy to get the win."

 The match featured a pair of All-America outside hitters. Gannon senior Journey Blevins (Richwood, Ohio/North Union) finished with a match-high 23 kills and added 16 digs. Clarion senior Cassidy Snider collected 17 kills, but that was a strong effort for the GU defense considering Snider had been National Player of the Week after back-to-back matches with 28 and 30 kills.
 
In its previous match, Gannon had rallied from a 2-1 deficit to beat Seton Hill in five sets.
 
Gannon improved to 10-5 overall and has won consecutive matches over IUP, Seton Hill, and Clarion to open the PSAC West season. Clarion dropped to 8-5 and 2-1.
 
 
 What happened:
 
Clarion appeared to be on the way to a comfortable first-set win when it built a 22-15 lead. Trailing 24-20, Gannon scored four consecutive points in a run that included a Hailey Koch (Littleton, Col./Dakota Ridge) kill and an Emma Hall (Lowell, Mich./Lowell) ace. Clarion took a 27-26 lead before GU tallied three straight points, including a pair on kills by Blevins.
 
After Clarion won the second set 25-20, the Golden Eagles led almost the entire third set and held a 23-20 edge. Gannon rallied to take a 28-27 lead, but Clarion scored the next three points to take the set, 30-28.
 
The Golden Knights then took command in the fourth set, rolling to a 16-3 lead and cruising to a 25-15 win.
 
The fifth set was even most of the way before the teams were tied at 11. Gannon then put the match away by scoring four of the final five points. Ali Sorenson's (Tinley Park, Ill./Lincoln Way East) kill gave Gannon the lead before Koch and Lauren Atwell (Mars, Pa./Mars Area) teamed up to block Snider. The Knights clinched the set on consecutive kills by Koch and Carissa Treser (Sewickley, Pa./North Allegheny).
 

By the numbers:
 
Blevins led Gannon with 23 kills and 25.5 points.  Koch added 10 kills and a team-best five total blocks.
 
Junior setter Bengisu Arslan (Ankara, Turkey/Private Çankaya Doga Anatolian) had another strong effort for Gannon, dishing out 49 assists, including 15 in the first set. She also compiled 15 digs, three aces and two kills.
 
Senior libero Emma Hall (Lowell, Mich./Lowell) continued her fine defensive work with 27 digs. Lara Toruner (Istanbul, Turkey/Terakki Foundation) added 12 digs.
 
Both teams played strong defense as Clarion hit .150 and GU hit .129.
 
Gannon had a 10-3 edge in service aces.

"There were some good performances from several individuals, including Journey and Hailey who scored lots of points, but this was a team win which featured some good performances off the bench while starters regrouped. Great job by the team," Darling said. 

 
 
What's ahead:
 
Gannon will visit Pitt-Johnstown on Saturday at noon. UPJ swept Edinboro in three sets on Friday night to improve to 14-1 overall and 2-0 in the PSAC West. The winner of that match will close the weekend in first place.