Box Score

CALIFORNIA – The Clarion University women's volleyball team scored its first win at California in six years Saturday afternoon knocking off the second-ranked team in the Atlantic Region 3-2.

 

“Anytime you beat a tough team on the road, its huge, especially for your confidence” Clarion's fourth-year head coach Jennifer Harrison, who has the Golden Eagles ranked third in the Atlantic Region, said.

 

Add to the fact the Golden Eagles did it with backup setter Rebecca Beightol playing for the second straight game for the injured Amanda Gough and Harrison was especially pleased.

 

“It's nice to know that we can put Becca in there and not miss a beat,” Harrison said.

 

Beightol played a key role in the victory with 47 assists, 15 digs, two aces and a kill.

 

Kellie Bartman (19, kills, 14 digs, 3 blocks), Kaitlyn Anderson (19 kills) and Rebecca Webb (11 kills, 3 blocks) were the beneficiaries of Beightol's play, while Hannah Heeter (4 kills, 5 blocks, 4 assists, 4 digs) also had a solid all-around match. Rhianon Brady (23 digs) and Kayla Rodak (9 digs) also chipped in on defense.

 

Clarion raced out to a 2-0 lead in the match winning by scores of 28-26 and 25-22 before California came back and took the next two sets by scores of 22-25 and 23-25 before the Golden Eagles responded with a 15-12 win in the decisive fifth set.

 

“We got into some ball control issues,” Harrison said. “Once we took care of that, we did some good things.”

 

With the win, Clarion improves to 22-3 overall and 14-1 in the PSAC-West.

 

Clarion returns to action at 7 p.m. Wednesday when it hosts Seton Hill.

 

NOTES – Clarion won at Cal for the first time since Sept. 18, 2004 … The Golden Eagles have now own two straight against the Vulcans for the first time since the 2004 season.