SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The trio of
Natalie Cignetti (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana),
Lily McWilliams (Rockville, Md./Thomas Sprigg Wootton) and
Alexis Anderson (Cleveland, Ohio/Mayfield) combined for 47 kills to lead IUP women's volleyball to a four-set victory over Slippery Rock on Friday night Morrow Field House on the SRU campus.
The three hit an impressive .310 together on the night as the Crimson Hawks improved to 14-5 overall and 5-3 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC).
The Crimson Hawks took the opening two sets by scores of 25-16 and 25-23, dropping a 25-20 set three before finishing off SRU with a 25-15 victory in the fourth.
IUP hit at least .244 as a team in all four sets, totaling just 16 hitting errors on a consistent offensive evening. The Crimson Hawks also totaled nine team blocks and forced Slippery Rock (8-13, 1-7) to hit into 22 errors.
Cignetti finished with a team-high 21 kills, which also tied a season-high for the junior. She hit .312 on 48 total attacks and had her 11th double-double of the year with 12 digs. Cignetti also had two aces and four block assists.
The senior McWilliams had 15 kills, her second highest total of the year. It was her most efficient outing of the season, hitting .306 on 36 attacks. McWilliams also had eight digs, an ace, and three block assists.
Anderson tallied her fifth double-double of the season with 11 kills and a season-high 17 digs. The junior hit .310 on 29 attacks, adding two block assists.
Directing the offense was senior setter
Lindsay Moeller (Troy, Mich./Troy), who finished with 46 assists. It was her third straight match with at least 46 assists, bringing her total to six 40-assist matches this year. She also chipped in on the defensive end with 15 digs.
Junior
Gabby Egler (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Obama Academy) was responsible for half of IUP's team blocks, finishing with a career-high nine block assists.
The match was the first of the weekend for the Crimson Hawks, who face PSAC Northwest leader Edinboro (15-4, 8-0) Saturday at 2 p.m.
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's volleyball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPVB.
