JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Despite winning each of the first two sets, the Crimson Hawks fell victim to a furious comeback by PSAC Central Division leader Pitt-Johnstown, as IUP eventually fell in five sets on Friday night.
The Crimson Hawks won an extended first set by a score of 28-26 and went up by two games with a 25-20 victory in the second. The Mountain Cats then took control, tallying convincing wins of 25-12, 25-16 and 15-9 to complete the comeback.
IUP fell to 17-8 overall and 8-6 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Southwest Division with the loss. Pitt-Johnstown improved to 19-7 and 12-2. Both teams entered the night ranked in the top 10 of the initial Atlantic Region rankings on Wednesday, with UPJ at four and IUP at seven.
The opening set proved to be the most exciting of the night as IUP grabbed early momentum. UPJ held 16-11 lead before an IUP timeout triggered a 6-1 run for the Crimson Hawks, tying the set at 17-17. From there on out, there were seven ties and eight lead changes, before IUP ultimately came out with the two-point victory with an ace from junior
Natalie Cignetti (Indiana, Pa. /Indiana).
The second set had a similar start, with UPJ leading 12-9 before the Crimson Hawks reeled off an 8-2 run to take a 17-14 lead. The Mountain Cats wouldn't get any closer as IUP finished things off by scoring five of the last eight points.
The Crimson Hawks used a strong defense to get out to that 2-0 lead, forcing UPJ into a combined 14 hitting errors in the first two sets. The Mountain Cats, however, rebounded and totaled just four the rest of the way, hitting .310, .316, and .227, respectively, in the final three sets.
Junior
Alexis Anderson (Cleveland, Ohio/Mayfield) led the Crimson Hawks with 18 kills and a career-high 25 digs, her sixth double-double of the season. Cignetti also finished with a double-double, her 17th of the year and ninth straight, putting up 12 kills and 15 digs. She added three service aces.
Senior
Lindsay Moeller (Troy, Mich./Troy) dished out 41 assists, adding four kills and 11 digs, while sophomore
Jess Marut (Painesville, Ohio/Riverside) had 23 digs.
The Crimson Hawks are on the road Saturday, as they try to get back on track against Lock Haven (5-17, 4-10).
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's volleyball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPVB.
