INDIANA, Pa. – Junior Alexis Anderson tied a career-high with 23 kills, while classmate Natalie Cignetti added 19 kills and 17 digs, but Clarion's late rally was too much for IUP women's volleyball in a five-set loss on Tuesday night at the Kovalchick Complex.
 
Anderson had her best offensive performance of the season, tallying her 23 kills on 55 attacks with just seven errors for a .291 hitting percentage. She added three digs, two aces, and a pair of block assists to total 26.0 points on the night.
 
Cignetti put up her 10th double-double of the season, including her second straight. Her 19 kills and 17 digs were each the second highest totals of the season, respectively, adding an ace and two block assists for 21.0 points.
 
The loss drops the Crimson Hawks to 13-5 overall and 4-3 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC).
 
The Crimson Hawks dropped the opening set 25-22, but rallied with dominant wins of 25-13 and 25-17 to take a 2-1 lead in the match. IUP hit .257 as a team in the second and third sets combined, totaling 25 kills to gain the advantage. Anderson alone had 10 kills during that run, including seven in the second set.
 
Clarion came back to win the fourth set by a score of 25-23, using a 7-1 run in the middle to take a 19-15 lead before holding off a late Crimson Hawks' push.
 
The deciding set was controlled by the Golden Eagles (11-8, 5-2 PSAC), who didn't commit an offensive error and outhit the Crimson Hawks .467 to .067.
 
The loss was also the third straight for IUP and broke the tie between the two schools in the Southwest Division. The Crimson Hawks now sit a game back of California and Clarion and two games behind Seton Hill.
 
Senior Lily McWilliams had seven kills and just one error offensively, adding three block assists. Redshirt sophomore Elora Pittman finished with five kills and six block assists. Senior Lindsay Moeller dished out 47 assists from her setter position, her second highest total of the year and fifth 40-plus match of the season. She also had 14 digs.
 
Sophomore Jess Marut helped lead the defensive effort with 28 digs while adding three assists.
 
The Crimson Hawks are on the road this weekend, traveling to Slippery Rock on Friday night and Edinboro on Saturday afternoon, before returning for four straight home dates.
 
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's volleyball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPVB.