CLARION, Pa. - Behind a season-high 21 kills by junior outside hitter Nicole Peterson, the IUP women's volleyball team put together arguably its biggest win of the season with a five-set victory over Clarion on the road to wrap up the regular season.

The win gave the Crimson Hawks their third straight - and sixth in the last seven matches - to end the year. The 5-setter came as the Hawks fought for a postseason bid as they entered the evening still alive for the final spot in the division in next week's conference tournament, however they were eliminated by virtue of Cal U's win over Mercyhurst.

The Crimson Hawks end their season with an 18-14 overall record, including an 8-8 mark in the PSAC West. The win total under first year head coach Julie Torbett is 11 better than 2019's seven victories. It's also five more than the 2018 and 2019 seasons combined (14). 

IUP's eight divisional wins lock them into the fifth spot in the PSAC West standings with one day left in the league's regular season. Cal U clinched a postseason berth and are currently 9-6 in league play. 

The Hawks were rolling with close wins in the first two sets - 26-24 and 25-21. Clarion came back to tie things up with identical 25-23 victories in the third and fourth sets. IUP then overcame a 10-8 deficit in the final set by scoring seven of the final nine points to hold on for the win. 

Peterson's 21 kills came on 58 attacks as she hit .207 for the match. She also tallied a double-double with 16 digs. She was one of four Hawks to finish with double-figure kills, with Caroline Walsh and Brooke Little each tallying 13 while Kylie Osborn had 10. Walsh added four block assists and Osborn had three.

Setter Leah Henderson hit a season-high with 54 assists, adding 10 digs, five kills and three block assists. Bailey Flowerdew a match-high 19 digs.

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