CLARION, Pa. – The IUP women's volleyball team could not find a rhythm in a 3-0 setback to Clarion on Wednesday night in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Quarterfinals inside the Tippin Gymnasium.
Clarion (25-3) was impressive at the net, tallying 18 total blocks on the night. The outside hitting duo of Julia Piccolino and Cassidy Snider combined for 22 kills for the Golden Eagles, who hit .333 on the night.
IUP (20-8) had little time with the lead, starting slow at times against a potent Clarion side.
Stefania Anagnostou guided the IUP offensive attack with 10 kills on a .261 hitting percentage.
Nicole Peterson logged her 1,000th career point in the opening set, finishing with six kills and four digs.
Lauren Valentic added six kills and
Leah Henderson had 18 assists. Clarion held a 7-1 edge in service aces as part of an all-around impressive effort for the second seed in the PSAC West.
IUP, ranked sixth in the latest set of regional rankings, will now await a potential at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament. Clarion advances to the PSAC Semifinals on Saturday.
Clarion dropped in consecutive service aces in the opening set, lifting its lead to 10-5 and prompting an IUP timeout. The big Clarion run continued, taking a comfortable lead. Peterson recorded her 1,000th career point with a kill from the left side, slicing the IUP deficit to 16-8.
Walsh and Henderson soared for a block assist, brining IUP to within 21-14 in the opening set. The Golden Eagles remained in control, despite IUP holding off set point three times. Out of the timeout, Clarion secured the frame 25-19.
Anagostou cracked four kills in the opening set for IUP, while Clarion received four kills from Cassidy Snider.
Clarion used a quick surge to jump ahead 6-3 in the second, despite some strong IUP offense.
Brooke Little countered with a swing from the right side as IUP trailed 6-4. Clarion stretched its advantage to 11-5 after a service ace clipped the net. A 5-2 push lifted Clarion ahead following some stout play at the net.
The Golden Eagles continued to heat up offensively as IUP looked to chip away. A kill from Henderson brought IUP to within 24-19 as IUP attempted to battle back. Getting to within 24-21, IUP could not finish the rally with a kill from Alyson Peters capping the frame with a kill for Clarion. Leading 2-0 in the match, Clarion pushed its hitting percentage to .259 with 14 block assists. Meanwhile, IUP was paced by Anagostou's eight kills and one ace.
Things were evenly played at the onset of the third set, with both sides going back and forth. Anagostou laid a kill inside the sideline, knotting the set at four, before a Valentic swing pushed the Crimson Hawks ahead at 8-7. The Golden Eagles continued using the advantage at the net, taking back momentum at 12-9 in the third frame.
Clarion remained ahead by a few points, answering any IUP surges with timely offense. A block assist for Valentic and
Simay Memisoglu brought IUP to within 21-16, but it wasn't enough as the Golden Eagles finished off the match.
FOLLOW
For up-to-date information, visit IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's volleyball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawks and @IUPVB
UP NEXT
IUP will await a potential at-large bid into the 2022 NCAA Atlantic Region Tournament. The NCAA DII Selection Show is Sunday, November 13 at 10:00 p.m.
