ERIE, Pa. – After a tough five-set loss on Friday night, the Crimson Hawks rallied with a four-set victory over Mercyhurst in a Saturday afternoon conference women's volleyball matchup in Erie.
 
Senior outside hitter Natalie Cignetti (Indiana, Pa./Indiana) had a match-high 15 kills on 46 total attacks (.196) while senior middle Gabby Egler (Pittsburgh, Pa./Barack Obama Academy) added 12 kills on 27 attacks (.370) as IUP improved to 14-5 overall and 5-1 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC).
 
The win helped IUP keep pace in the PSAC Southwest Division, as the Crimson Hawks are in a three-way tie with Seton Hill and California (Pa.) with 5-1 records. Clarion is 4-2.
 
The Crimson Hawks needed a win on Saturday after dropping a five-set loss at Gannon on Friday night. IUP took the opening two sets from Mercyhurst by scores of 27-25 and 25-20, dropped the third 25-22, and clinched the match with a 25-19 fourth set win.
 
The teams were as evenly matched as the set scores, with IUP narrowly outhitting Mercyhurst .197 to .122, totaling 47 kills to the Lakers' 44. Mercyhurst did finish with 51 combined errors compared to the Crimson Hawks' 41.
 
Sophomore middle Jessica Ignace (South Lyon, Mich./South Lyon) came off the bench to score six kills with three block assists. Egler finished with a team-best six block assists as IUP totaled 8.0 team blocks.
 
Graduate Ellie Burns (Clarion, Pa./Clarion) had four service aces and 10 digs, senior setter Katie Miller (Fort Wayne, Ind./Homestead) tallied 41 assists, and junior libero Jess Marut (Painesville, Ohio/Riverside) had 12 digs.
 
This week
The Crimson Hawks open divisional play on Tuesday night at Clarion, before returning home to host Edinboro and Slippery Rock on Friday and Saturday, respectively.
 
Follow
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's volleyball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPVB.