ERIE, Pa. – Seven seniors on the Gannon volleyball team were honored on Senior Day on Saturday.
 
However, a talented Clarion volleyball team ended Gannon's 11-match winning streak with a five-set victory as the Golden Knights fell, 25-27, 25-15, 17-25, 25-15, 12-15, at Hagerty Family Events Center.
 
Gannon remained solidly in first place in the PSAC West with a 10-1 conference record. The Knights moved to 18-6 overall. Second-place Clarion improved to 7-3 in the PSAC West and 13-8 overall.
 
"I don't have much to say about this match except to say that Clarion played better than we did and deserved to win," said Gannon coach Matt Darling. "Mostly I'm just feeling bad for our seniors, who have done so much for the program and probably really wanted to win today. Now we have to bounce back."
 
After the match Gannon honored seven seniors: Journey Blevins (Richwood, Ohio/North Union), Sarah Boyd (Erie, Pa./McDowell), Emma Hall (Lowell, Mich./Lowell), Hailey Koch (Littleton, Col./Dakota Ridge), Ali Sorenson (Tinley Park, Ill./Lincoln Way East), Delaney Thomas (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park), and Lara Toruner (Istanbul, Turkey/Terakki Foundation).
 

How it happened:
 
Clarion took a 1-0 lead with a 27-25 win in the first set and then took a 2-1 edge with a 25-17 third set. However, Gannon won the second and fourth sets by identical 25-15 scores as the match moved to a deciding fifth set.
 
In the final set, Gannon took a 4-1 lead before Clarion rallied to take a 6-5 edge. Gannon scored three consecutive points to take an 8-6 advantage as the teams switched sides. The Golden Knights eventually lead 11-10 before the Golden Eagles scored five of the final six points. Clarion's last three points came on kills by standout Cassidy Snider.
 

By the numbers:

Snider, a first-team All-American in 2023, led all players with 31 kills. She leads the nation with 469 kills and ranks second in Division II with 5.41 kills per set.
 
Gannon received strong performances from senior outside hitter Journey Blevins (Richwood, Ohio/North Union) and senior right side Hailey Koch (Littleton, Col./Dakota Ridge). Blevins had a team-high 17 kills and Koch added 14. Sophomore outside hitter Carissa Treser (Sewickley, Pa./North Allegheny) added 10 kills.
 
Junior setter Bengisu Arslan (Ankara, Turkey/Private Çankaya Doga Anatolian) led GU with 41 assists and added 15 digs. Senior libero Emma Hall (Lowell, Mich./Lowell) compiled 30 digs, while Blevins added 16.
 
Freshman middle blocker Lauren Atwell (Mars, Pa./Mars Area) paced Gannon with eight total blocks, including four solo.

 
What's ahead:
 
Gannon will play another home match on Wednesday at 7 p.m. when the Knights host Edinboro at Hagerty Family Events Center..