INDIANA, Pa. – IUP used a balanced attack across the lineup, dispatching Slippery Rock in straight sets on Saturday night at the KCAC. Set scores were 25-19, 25-21, 25-20.
 
IUP (15-7, 5-3) was in control much of the way, getting 10 or more kills from three different players in the victory. IUP has won five of the last six meetings with Slippery Rock (11-10, 3-5), including sweeps in four of those victories.
 
Offensively, Nyla Birch paced the attack with a match-high 14 kills on a .429 hitting percentage. Stefania Anagnostou logged a double-double with 11 kills and 13 digs, while Grace Mangapora stepped in and delivered 10 kills and 12 digs of her own.
 
Callie Chevalier posted 10 kills on a tough night offensively for SRU, while Kate Lanchendro logged 16 digs.

A four-point stretch provided IUP some breathing room at the onset of the first set at 10-7. Simay Memisoglu and Anagnostou had kills in the early swing. Another scoring run of five points handed IUP a comfortable lead at 21-12, capped by a well-placed service ace from Mangapora. 

The Rock trimmed the deficit to 24-19 before IUP took the opening set on an attack error. 

IUP raced out to a 9-4 lead in the second set with kills from Lauren Valentic and Mangapora. SRU responded, taking leads of 13-11 and 16-12. The Hawks chipped away, closing the second set with a 10-2 scoring burst for a comeback victory in the second frame. 

Slippery Rock held the advantage through the middle portions of the third set with both sides trading points down the stretch. IUP closed the match with six of the final seven points as Bailey Flowerdew secured the sweep with an ace. 
 
Up Next 
IUP hosts California (Pa.) for the Dig Pink/My Cause Game at the KCAC on Tuesday, October 17. First serve is at 6:00 p.m. 

Follow 
IUP hosts Slippery Rock on Saturday, October 14 for a 6:00 p.m. first serve at the KCAC. 
 

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