Isaac Petkac
1
Pitt.-Johnstown Pitt-J 18-12,7-7 PSAC
3
Winner Gannon Gannon 26-7,13-1 PSAC
Pitt.-Johnstown Pitt-J
18-12,7-7 PSAC
1
Final
3
Gannon Gannon
26-7,13-1 PSAC
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Pitt.-Johnstown Pitt-J 25 15 17 21 (1)
Gannon Gannon 20 25 25 25 (3)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball | | Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

No. 1 Golden Knights Rally for 3-1 Win over No. 4 UPJ

Gannon to face third-seed IUP in Atlantic Regional final

ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon volleyball team overcame a loss in the first game to defeat Pitt-Johnstown 3-1 (20-25, 25-15, 25-17, 25-21) in the semifinals of the NCAA Div. II Atlantic Regional on Friday night at the Highmark Events Center. The Golden Knights advanced to the regional final set for Saturday at 4:00 p.m.

With the Atlantic Regional semifinals an All-PSAC West affair No. 1 seed Gannon will face Western Division rival Indiana (Pa.) with a trip to the Elite Eight on the line. Head coach Matt Darling's team is looking to defend its regional crown and reach the Elite Eight for the second straight year and the fourth time in the last five years.

The No. 3 seed Crimson Hawks (23-8) posted a mild upset with a 3-1 win over PSAC champion and No. 2 seed East Stroudsburg in Friday's first semifinal. Gannon improved to 26-7 with the semifinal win while UPJ's season came to an end at 18-12.
Saturday's winner moves on to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight set for Sioux Falls, SD on Dec. 11-13.

MATT DARLING COMMENTS: "It was another battle with UPJ tonight, and it's exciting to advance. We really turned things around after the first set, and things started to go our way when the offense clicked. For the middle two sets, especially, we were sharp. Of course, the reward for winning is to play again tomorrow, and we'll look forward to that. IUP will be ready, so we need to turn our attention to the next match as soon as possible."

MOUNTAIN CATS CLAW THEIR WAY TO WIN IN GAME ONE: Thanks to a slow start Gannon found itself trailing throughout the first set. The Golden Knights scored the first point but UPJ grabbed a 7-2 lead forcing a timeout from Darling. The UPJ lead grew to as much as 17-7 before the Golden Knights started battling back. Gannon eventually closed to 21-19 but the Mountain Cats held on for s 25-20 win.
NEXT TWO GAMES ALL GU: The late rally in game one was a sign of things to come. The Golden Knights jumped out to a 6-1 advantage and never trailed. UPJ closed at one point to 10-8 but the Golden Knights spurted with an 8-2 run and finished with a 25-15 win. After hitting -.054 in the first set Gannon sizzled in the second at .560. The scenario was much the same in the third game, a big early lead and strong hitting (.441). Six straight points, three on kills by Sydney Wake (Massillon, Ohio/Jackson), gave Gannon a 7-2 lead. The Mountain Cats never pulled closer than that five-point deficit despite hitting .407 in the game.
GANNON PULLS AWAY LATE IN GAME FOUR: The fourth was unlike the first three, with neither team able to build an advantage. It featured 12 ties and five lead changes. Gannon finally broke a 15-15 tie courtesy of back-to-back kills by Nehir Yazicioglu (Ankara, Turkey). Gannon was able to celebrate when a service error clinched the 25-21 win.
NO STRANGERS TO THE REGIONAL FINALS: Gannon has now reached the Atlantic Regional championship match four of the last five years and five of the previous sevn. IUP is headed back to the finals for the second time in three years.
BY THE NUMBERS:  Freshman outside hitter Abbey Williams (Chicago, Ill./Mother Mcauley Liberal Arts) turned in her second straight big night with a match-high 17 kills and a.375 hitting percentage. She added eight digs. Sydney Wake (Massillon, Ohio/Jackson) finished with 11 kills and Kasey Smith (Meadville, Pa./Villa Maria) had 10 to go with a .438 hitting percentage. Bengisu Arslan (Ankara, Turkey/Private Çankaya Doga Anatolian) had 47 assists.
THE BLOCK IS BACK:  After a slow start Gannon's middle blockers controlled the action. Gannon finished with nine blocks on four block solos and 10 block assists. Smith led the way with two block solos and three block assists. Lauren Atwell (Mars, Pa./Mars Area), who played in just one game in Thursday's quarterfinals, had a block solo and two block assists along with nine kills and a .600 hitting percentage.
GANNON, IUP MEET FOR THIRD TIME: Gannon and IUP certainly aren't strangers to each other. Saturday's Atlantic Regional championship game will be the third meeting between the two rivals, The Golden Knights have prevailed 3-0 in both regular season meetings but are still smarting from a 3-1 loss in last year's PSAC Championship match.
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