INDIANA, Pa. – IUP rallied in the second half to secure a 3-2 victory over Clarion  Tuesday evening at the KCAC. The set scores were 25-19, 22-25, 11-25, 25-19, and 15-9.
 
With this victory, IUP climbed to the second seed in the PSAC West women's volleyball standings. The Hawks now hold a 19-8 overall record and a 9-4 mark in conference play, as they continue their five-game winning streak.
 
Freshman Jessica Neiman led the charge for IUP, registering 18 kills and four assisted blocks. Senior Lauren Valentic contributed 10 kills and an impressive nine total blocks. Audrey Torres added eight kills, while Delaney Concannon chipped in six.
 
The match started with a bang as Valentic put IUP on the board first with a kill. The Hawks surged to a 22-16 lead, and Valentic sealed the first set with another kill, giving IUP a 25-19 win.
 
After IUP gained a 6-3 lead, Clarion fought back, eventually tying the score at 6-6. The Golden Eagles continued to build momentum and took an 18-13 lead. However, the Hawks responded with five kills, three from Neiman, to level the score at 18-18. Despite the comeback, Clarion capitalized on timely kills from Cassidy Snider, claiming the second set 25-22.
 
IUP struggled to find their rhythm in the third set, managing just two points during Clarion's 15-point run. Although the Hawks briefly cut the deficit to seven, the Golden Eagles closed out the set with a seven-point run of their own, taking it 25-11.
 
Facing a 2-1 deficit, the Hawks were determined to force a fifth set.

In the fourth, IUP jumped out to an 11-5 lead, fueled by key blocks from Valentic and Olivia Heidel. The Crimson Hawks capitalized on Clarion's errors, extending their lead to 20-12. A pair of errors by Clarion allowed IUP to take the fourth set 25-19 and force the fifth.
 
In the final set, IUP dominated early, jumping to a 9-3 advantage. With the Hawks just two points away from match point, Valentic and Heidel combined for another critical block. Valentic then delivered the game-winning kill, securing the 15-9 win and completing the comeback.

Up Next
IUP closes out the regular season Friday, November 15 at Pitt Johnstown, start time is at 6:00 p.m.

Follow
For up-to-date information, visit IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's volleyball on X (Twitter) @IUPCrimsonHawks and @IUPVB.