CLARION, Pa. – IUP women's volleyball snatched the momentum back following a slow start, battling back from two sets down in a hard-fought reverse sweep against first place Clarion on Tuesday night at Tippin Gymnasium. Set scores were 18-25, 27-29, 25-22, 25-21, 15-6.
 
IUP (18-7, 8-3) held a key advantage at the net, particularly over the final three sets, posting 17 total blocks on the night. Leading the nation in total team blocks, IUP put its towering lineup on full display against a potent Clarion (19-4, 9-2) attack.
 
Caroline Walsh racked up 11 total blocks on the night and Nyla Birch added eight more. Birch also posted 12 kills, matching the attack output of Simay Memisoglu. Bailey Flowerdew logged 20 digs on the night, continuing to inch closer to sixth place all-time in program history, now just 10 digs shy of matching Carri Cole (1,149).
 
Lauren Valentic hit .500 on the night with nine kills and six block assists. The 17.0 team blocks marked the third-highest output of a PSAC school this season over a five-set match, only behind Gannon (18.0; 10/18/23) and West Chester (18.0; 9/29/23).
 
Stefania Anagnostou showcased her versatility with 10 kills and 11 digs, also adding one of just two IUP service aces on the night. Cassidy Snider collected 21 kills for Clarion as IUP held the rest of the Golden Eagle lineup in check.
 
IUP flipped the script from the team's first meeting with Clarion back on September 29 at the KCAC, a match where the Crimson Hawks had multiple chances to close out the match in the fifth set. On Tuesday, IUP needed a rally of its own, delivering with a finishing touch down the stretch.
 
Clarion stormed out of the gate, taking the initial two sets of the night, including an extended 29-27 second set. IUP stayed the course, battling back from a 16-11 deficit in the third set with an important 12-3 surge that extended the match.
 
IUP rattled off five blocks in the final run of the third set alone before Memisoglu laced down a kill for the 25-22 set victory.
 
The Hawks and Golden Eagles traded scoring throughout the fourth set with neither side able to pull away. Down by one (18-17), IUP used three consecutive points that included a timely ace from Anagnstou followed by a dual block from Walsh and Grace Mangapora for a 20-18 edge. A four-point burst closed out the fourth set as IUP received three kills from three different hitters (Birch, Memisoglu and Valentic).
 
The Hawks charged forward with 11 consecutive points in the fifth set, racing out to a 14-3 lead before Mangapora closed out the match with a kill.
 
Up Next
IUP visits Pitt-Johnstown on Saturday, October 28 at 1:00 p.m.
 
Follow
For up-to-date information, visit IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's volleyball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawks and @IUPVB.

 

---