INDIANA, Pa. – Sophomore Natalie Cignetti (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana) had 14 kills and a career-high seven service aces to help IUP sweep Clarion in three sets in a big Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West women's volleyball win on Tuesday night at the Kovalchick Complex.
 
The win was the first for IUP over Clarion since Sept. 16, 2006 when the then-Indians defeated the Golden Eagles in four sets.
 
The Crimson Hawks improves to 12-4 overall and 5-2 in the PSAC, bouncing back from a pair of divisional losses last weekend to defeat the traditionally strong Golden Eagles. Clarion falls to 9-9 overall and 5-2 in the PSAC.
 
 IUP won by scores of 25-19, 26-24 and 25-23.
 
Falling behind 9-7 in the opening set, the Crimson Hawks rallied to tie the score several times before a 6-0 run gave them a 19-15 lead. Twice Clarion narrowed the gap to three points, but kills by Cignetti and senior Meghan Schneider (Lake Geneva, Wis. /Big Foot) helped IUP take a 1-0 lead in the match.
 
Another close score in the second set almost turned into a runaway win by the Crimson Hawks as they went on a 9-2 run to take a 16-9 lead in the set. Clarion responded with a series of 3-0 runs before reeling off five straight points to take a 23-22 lead.
 
After an IUP timeout, the Crimson Hawks scored four of the final five points, including back-to-back aces by Cignetti to end the match and take a 2-0 lead.
 
The Golden Eagles seemed to take control early in the third set, using a 4-1 run to go on top 10-7. They would later build a 15-9 lead before the Crimson Hawks began chipping away, narrowing the gap to 19-16.
 
Clarion responded with three straight points to go back on top by six at 22-16. Cignetti stopped the Golden Eagles' run with her 14th kill of the match before serving seven straight points – including three aces – to give the Crimson Hawks a 24-22 lead. After Clarion narrowed it to one, sophomore Alexis Anderson (Cleveland, Ohio/Mayfield) put the match away with a kill off a set from junior Lindsay Moeller (Troy, Mich./Troy), giving IUP the win.
 
Cignetti's 14 kills came on 33 total attacks for a .364 hitting percentage. She also had 11 digs and two assists. Anderson finished with 11 kills on 29 attacks and junior Lily McWilliams (Rockville, Md./Thomas Sprigg Wootton) added a season-high 10 kills on 18 attacks.
 
Moeller finished with 40 assists, her 10th match this year of at least 35. Freshman Jess Marut (Painesville, Ohio/Riverside) had 12 digs and McWilliams had three total blocks.
 
The Crimson Hawks, now in a three-way tie for third in the strong PSAC West, hit the road this weekend for matches at Seton Hill (14-5, 5-2) and California (Pa.) (6-11, 4-3) on Friday and Saturday, respectively.
 
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's volleyball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPVB.