GREENSBURG, Pa. – Behind a career-high 20 kills from
Nehir Yazicioglu (Ankara, Turkey) and a season-high 17 kills from
Sydney Wake (Massillon, Ohio/Jackson), the Gannon volleyball team battled to a thrilling five-set victory over Seton Hill on Saturday afternoon at the McKenna Center. The Golden Knights prevailed 23-25, 25-13, 26-24, 12-25, 20-18 to extend their winning streak to three matches and secure a berth in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament.
Gannon improved to 18-4 overall and 8-2 in PSAC West action, remaining tied with Clarion for second place in the division standings, just a half-game behind first-place Indiana (Pa.).
The Golden Knights overcame a fourth-set setback before grinding out a dramatic 20-18 victory in the deciding fifth set, improving to 3-1 in five-set matches this season. Gannon held a 64-61 advantage in kills and outhit Seton Hill .181 to .153 while recording 88 digs and 10 total blocks.
Alexis Fowler (Cranberry Township, PA/Eden Christian Academy) anchored the defensive effort with a season-high 28 digs, while
Abbey Williams (Chicago, Ill./Mother Mcauley Liberal Arts) added a 16-kill, 16-dig double-double.
"I'm really proud of the team for hanging in and getting the win against a Seton Hill team that played hard from start to finish," said Gannon head coach
Matt Darling. "It wasn't always clean, but we showed great courage down the stretch."
THE GAME FACTS
Score: Gannon 3, Seton Hill 2 (23-25, 25-13, 26-24, 12-25, 20-18)
Records: Gannon (18-4, 8-2 PSAC West); Seton Hill (11-9, 4-6 PSAC West)
Location: McKenna Center – Greensburg, Pa.
Date: Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026
THE KNIGHT CAP
- Postseason Bound: Gannon clinched a berth in the PSAC Tournament with Saturday's victory, improving to 8-2 in conference action. The Golden Knights remain tied for second in the PSAC West standings with Clarion.
- Career Day for Yazicioglu: Nehir Yazicioglu (Ankara, Turkey) delivered a career-high 20 kills on 58 attacks, leading the Golden Knights offensively. She also contributed a solo block and two block assists.
- Wake's Season-Best Performance: Sydney Wake (Massillon, Ohio/Jackson) recorded a season-high 17 kills while hitting .310 on 42 attempts. She added four total blocks, including one solo, and finished with 19.5 points.
- Fowler Anchors Defense: Alexis Fowler (Cranberry Township, PA/Eden Christian Academy) registered a season-high 28 digs to lead Gannon's defensive effort. She also contributed six assists and a service ace.
- Williams Records 13th Double-Double: Abbey Williams (Chicago, Ill./Mother Mcauley Liberal Arts) finished with 16 kills and 16 digs for her 13th double-double of the season. She also contributed three assists and a service ace.
- Gainer Directs the Offense: Ava Gainer (Wheeling, W.Va./The Linsly School) distributed 46 assists while contributing 12 digs, a service ace and two total blocks.
- Back-and-Forth Battle: After dropping the opening set 25-23, Gannon responded with a dominant 25-13 victory in the second set, hitting .357 while limiting Seton Hill to a .032 hitting percentage. The Golden Knights followed with a narrow 26-24 win in the third before the Griffins forced a fifth set with a 25-12 fourth-set victory.
- Five-Set Success: Saturday's victory marked Gannon's fourth five-set match of the season, improving the Golden Knights to 3-1 in matches that go the distance. The deciding set featured 10 ties and seven lead changes before Gannon prevailed 20-18.
- Team Effort: The Golden Knights finished with 64 kills, 61 assists, 88 digs and 10 total blocks while holding Seton Hill to a .153 hitting percentage. Carlee Webber (Anamosa, IA/Marion) contributed five kills on a .357 hitting percentage and four block assists.
Up Next
Gannon returns to the Highmark Events Center on Friday, Oct. 30, when the Golden Knights host Clarion in a key PSAC West matchup. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. The Golden Knights will then host Slippery Rock on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 2 p.m. for Senior Day.
This story was written using the support of AI.
