WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – A year after finishing MEC/PSAC Crossover play with a 2-2 record, the Gannon volleyball team flipped the script in 2026.
The Golden Knights wrapped up crossover action with a perfect 4-0 record after sweeping West Liberty and Fairmont State on Saturday at the Academic Sports & Recreation Complex.
Gannon opened the day with a 25-19, 25-17, 25-23 victory over West Liberty before defeating Fairmont State 28-26, 25-14, 25-20. The two wins improved the Golden Knights to 8-2 overall.
Gannon also avenged two of its losses from last year's crossover, defeating Wheeling earlier in the weekend before taking down Fairmont State on Saturday.
Wheeling defeated Gannon 3-1 a season ago, while Fairmont State earned a 3-0 victory over the Golden Knights.
"The team showed some real toughness and determination to get back-to-back wins this afternoon," head coach
Matt Darling said. "West Liberty and Fairmont played us tough, and I'm really proud of our effort and our improvement, especially in blocking, as the day went on. I'm proud of the team."
THE GAME FACTS
Scores:
Gannon 3, West Liberty 0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-23)
Gannon 3, Fairmont State 0 (28-26, 25-14, 25-20)
Record: Gannon 8-2
Location: Academic Sports & Recreation Complex | West Liberty, W.Va.
Date: Sept. 12, 2026
THE KNIGHT CAP
- From 2-2 to 4-0: After going 2-2 in MEC/PSAC Crossover play a season ago, Gannon finished this year's crossover with a perfect 4-0 record and swept all four opponents.
- Turning the Tables: Two of Gannon's 2025 crossover losses came against Wheeling and Fairmont State. After falling 3-1 to Wheeling and 3-0 to Fairmont State last season, the Golden Knights returned the favor by sweeping both teams in 2026.
- West Liberty Game Leaders: Abbey Williams (Chicago, Ill./Mother Mcauley Liberal Arts) led the Golden Knights with 11 kills while hitting .320 and added nine digs and two service aces. Sydney Wake (Massillon, Ohio/Jackson) finished with eight kills without an error while hitting .381, and Nehir Yazicioglu (Ankara, Turkey) added seven kills. Ava Gainer (Wheeling, W.Va./The Linsly School) directed the offense with 38 assists, while Alexis Fowler (Cranberry Township, PA/Eden Christian Academy) led Gannon with 14 digs.
- Strong Start Against West Liberty: Gannon hit .303 with 14 kills in the opening set and followed by hitting .281 in the second. The Golden Knights took the first two sets 25-19 and 25-17 before battling through 12 ties in the third to close out the sweep 25-23.
- Fairmont State Game Leaders: Williams once again led Gannon with 12 kills, while Yazicioglu reached double figures with 10 kills and added nine digs. Wake chipped in eight kills without an attack error, while Gainer handed out 41 assists. Fowler anchored the back row with a match-high 19 digs.
- Gwiazda Nearly Perfect: Brooke Gwiazda (Frankfort, Ill./Peotone) turned in an efficient performance against Fairmont State with seven kills and no errors on 11 attacks for a .636 hitting percentage. She also totaled two solo blocks and two block assists.
- Battle to Start: The opening set against Fairmont State featured 13 ties and eight lead changes. Gannon eventually prevailed 28-26 to take control of the match.
- Golden Knights Pull Away: After the tight opening set, Gannon rolled to a 25-14 second-set victory while holding Fairmont State to a negative-.063 hitting percentage. The Golden Knights then hit .325 with 17 kills in the third to close out the sweep 25-20.
- Wake Goes Error-Free: Wake did not commit an attack error in either match Saturday, totaling 16 kills on 46 attacks. She hit .381 against West Liberty and .320 against Fairmont State.
- Perfect Crossover: Gannon won all 12 sets it played during its four MEC/PSAC Crossover matches to finish the event 4-0.
Up Next
Gannon returns home to host Edinboro on Thursday, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. inside the Highmark Events Center for PNC Night.
This story was written using the support of AI.
