INDIANA, Pa. – The IUP women's volleyball team visits Clarion for the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Quarterfinals on Wednesday. First serve from Tippin Gymnasium is set for 7:00 p.m.
IUP reached the 20-win plateau for the first time since 2017, also making its first postseason appearance since that season. The Crimson Hawks swept Mercyhurst on November 5, securing the three seed in the PSAC West. The quarterfinal round matchup pits the league's top two hitting percentage squads against each other.
IUP ranked sixth in last week's numerical set of Atlantic Region Rankings, while Clarion was at the top prior to the final weekend of regular season play. Regional rankings determine at-large bids to the NCAA Tournament, with conference championships receiving an automatic bid.
"It's an exciting time knowing that it's been quite a while since we have been (in the postseason)," IUP head coach Lorelle Hoyer said. "Sometimes the biggest challenge of being in postseason play for the first time is not knowing how to handle the situation, especially against teams that have been in the conference and regional tournaments for a long time."
Clarion dropped a five-set clash with Gannon in the regular season finale. Rebounding from a two-set deficit, the Golden Eagles fell just short in a battle for the top seed in the PSAC West. The winner of Wednesday's match advances to the semifinals at the highest remaining seed from the PSAC West.
PSAC WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
- Wednesday, November 9, 2022 (Quarterfinals at Higher Seed)
- Game 1: #1 East Shepherd v. #4 East West Chester, 7 PM
- Game 2: #2 West Clarion v. #3 West IUP 7 PM
- Game 3: #2 East Shippensburg v. #3 East Stroudsburg, 7 PM
- Game 4: #1 West Gannon v. #4 West Edinboro, 7 PM
- Saturday, November 12, 2022 (Semifinals at Highest Remaining West Seed)
- Game 5: Winner of Game 1 v. Winner of Game 2, TBA
- Game 6: Winner of Game 3 v. Winner of Game 4, TBA
- Sunday, November 13, 2022 (Finals at Highest Remaining West Seed)
- Game 7: Winner of Game 5 v. Winner of Game 6, Time TBA
GAME INFORMATION
- What: IUP at Clarion – PSAC Quarterfinals
- When: Wednesday, November 9 – 7:00 p.m.
- Where: Tippin Gymnasium – Clarion, Pa.
- Records: IUP (20-7); Clarion (24-3)
- Social Media Updates: Twitter (@IUPVB)
- Live Video: PSAC Digital Network
- Live Stats: Here
- Tournament Coverage: Championship Central
- Season Stats: IUP | Clarion
IUP NOTES/STORYLINES
- IUP has shuffled its personnel into the later portions of the regular seasons, getting contributions from throughout the lineup. For the Crimson Hawks, five of the team's six regular season conference losses have come to playoff opponents.
- Hoyer has helped return IUP to playoff prominence. She boasts seven seasons of Division I coaching experience, spending the 2021 season at the University of Idaho.
- The Crimson Hawks have been strong collectively at the service line, ranking ninth in NCAA Division II in aces/set (2.39) and 14th nationally in total aces (229).
- IUP has defeated Clarion just once in the last seven meetings.
- Nicole Peterson enters the postseason just one point shy of 1,000 for her career. Peterson is seventh all-time in program history in kills/set (3.03), proving to be a true offensive force as one of the senior leaders for the Crimson Hawks.
- Peterson has started all 27 matches in 2022, posting 265 kills and 35 aces.
- Leah Henderson is among the program's top five in career assists, ranking fifth (2,275). Henderson surpassed the 2,000-assist mark earlier this season, recording at least 600 in three seasons.
- Lauren Valentic is among the most efficient payers in the conference, ranking second in the PSAC in blocks/set (1.08), third in hitting percentage (.333), second in total blocks (100) and 14th in points/set (3.20).
- Brooke Little packs a punch on the outside for IUP, ranking second on the squad with 223 kills on the season. Bailey Flowerdew leads the team with 285 digs on the defensive side of the ball for the Crimson Hawks.
SCOUTING CLARION
- Clarion was atop the league standings for much of the season, remaining unbeaten in conference play until the middle of October. Aside from the two conference setbacks, Clarion's only other loss came to West Liberty of the MEC, a team listed in the last Atlantic Region rankings.
- Head coach Jennifer Herron is in her 16th season at Clarion, pushing Clarion into one of the top teams in the region and nationally. A three-time PSAC West Coach of the Year, Herron boasts an impressive 362-158 (.696) overall mark, which included consecutive 20-win campaigns.
- Julia Piccolino and Cassidy Snider provide Clarion with one of the best offensive combinations on the outside in the region. The duo combined for 27 kills in the Golden Eagles last meeting with IUP on October 29.
- Clarion ranks fifth in the nation with 14.50 kills/set and rely on setter London Fuller to help facilitate the offense.
FOLLOW
For up-to-date information, visit IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's volleyball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPVB.
