Box Score
INDIANA, PA – The Crimson Hawks battled hard against one-loss Clarion, pushing the Golden Eagles to five sets in their home-opener at the Kovalchick Conference and Athletic Complex Tuesday night.
In 16 previous matches, the Golden Eagles had only dropped eight sets, with their only loss coming to undefeated California.
IUP got things started right away, keeping it close with the Golden Eagles early on. Clarion, however, would take the set 25-20.
In the second set, Clarion came out strong early on, taking a 3-0 lead. IUP would go on an 8-1 run, forcing the Golden Eagles to call a timeout. Clarion responded, taking the next three points, but IUP would fire back, going on a 6-1 run and forcing another Golden Eagles' timeout.
Clarion got within one point of the Crimson Hawks, but it was not enough. IUP held on for the 25-20 victory. In that set,
Lisa Kissell (Greensburg, Pa. /Greensburg Salem) had three kills and
Elizabeth Sova (Myerstown, Pa. /ELCO) and
Meghan Schneider (Lake Geneva, Wis. /Big Foot) each added two.
In the third set, the two teams exchanged points, with neither getting more than a two-point lead, until the Crimson Hawks went on a 7-1 run, taking a 14-11 advantage. Play would again go back-and-forth until IUP was able to pull away late in the game, capped off by a Schneider kill to earn the 25-21 victory.
Sova added four kills in the third set, followed by Schneider with three and
Ericka Lentz (Reading/Holy Name) with two.
Clarion caught the Crimson Hawks off guard in the following set, taking the 25-13 victory off of 12 errors by IUP.
The final set was a first to 15 dual that was close from the start. Both teams exchanged points never getting more than a two point lead. The Golden Eagles would take control at the end of the set, winning the last six points and defeating IUP 15-9.
Sova again led the way for the Crimson Hawks, finishing the match with 15 kills on 28 total attacks. Lentz added 11 kills on 41 total attacks, as well as a service ace.
Errors doomed the Crimson Hawks as they finished the match with 37 total errors.
With the loss, the Crimson Hawks fall to 4-14, 1-6 on the season. They will travel to Erie to take on the Golden Knights of Gannon, Friday at 7 p.m.
