SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – IUP closed out a marathon of a first set before closing the match at Slippery Rock out with a sweep on Friday night. Set scores were 32-30, 25-23 and 25-22 in favor of the Crimson Hawks.
 
IUP (21-8, 11-4) has already clinched a spot in the PSAC Tournament, recording a season sweep of Slippery Rock (13-15, 5-10) with Friday's victory. A relatively even match statistically, IUP was able to buckle down in the end to finish off each set.
 
Slippery Rock battled back within striking distance in the third set with a 9-1 push, highlighting a strong effort on its home floor. IUP hit .197 as a team for the match, adding eight aces and 45 total kills. Bailey Flowerdew reached 100 aces in her career with two on Friday, adding 20 digs. Lauren Valentic notched eight kills on a .316 hitting percentage, posting a pair of solo blocks in the victory.
 
IUP has now won three straight matches against SRU, posting victories in six of the last seven meetings against the divisional opponent.
 
Valentic was one of three Hawks with eight kills in a balanced effort, joining Nyla Birch and Simay Memisooglu. Overall, IUP had had six players with five kills or more in the victory. Erica Selfridge logged a match-high 14 kills with two aces and 16 digs for SRU. Ahead 24-22, IUP could not finish out the set as The Rock continually countered. It was IUP on the defense, holding off three potential set points, including a three-point surge to close out a 32-30 victory.
 
A five-point swing that included a Grace Mangapora ace and four total SRU errors carried IUP to an 11-7 advantage in the second set. Mangapora eventually widened the lead to 20-16 with a kill with the Hawks finishing out the frame for a 2-0 lead in the match.
 
SRU led 8-4 in the opening set before IUP eventually battled bac to take the lead at 12-11 on a Grace Mangapora swing. Both sides traded points, with SRU created some slight breathing room at 19-17 and 20-18.
 
IUP raced to a 15-4 lead in the third set after a block from Valentic, later expanding the margin to 21-6 on a Birch kill. SRU did not give in, responding with a 16-3 push down the stretch.
 
Up Next
IUP finishes out the regular season with a road matchup at Seton Hill on Saturday, November 10 at 1:00 p.m.
 
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