Box Score

SLIPPERY ROCK – Behind a double-double that included her 1,000^th career kill from junior outside hitter Kellie Bartman, the Clarion University women's volleyball team claimed the first PSAC-West title in school history with a 3-0 win at Slippery Rock Tuesday night.

 

“This is special,” Clarion's fourth-year head coach Jennifer Harrison said. “Every college athlete wants to be part of school history, to make their mark at a school. Tonight, 20 athletes made their mark at Clarion.

 

“We have had high expectations since I became head coach four years ago, and this was a goal we had. The kids worked really hard, and it was something attainable through hard work. This is a hard conference to win. You are playing strong teams day in and day out.”

 

According to Harrison, winning the PSAC-West title is step one on what Clarion's hopes is a longer journey in the postseason.

 

“We have set our sights high, and this is the first step in where we want to go,” Harrison said. “The work doesn't stop here. We have to go out and continue to work and to get better if we want to reach the next step.”

 

Bartman, Clarion's top offensive player all season, was once again the catalyst for the Golden Eagles, who won by scores of 25-19, 25-15 and 25-22. The reigning PSAC-West Player of the Week had 14 kills and 10 digs giving her 1,004 career kills, the eighth player in school history to have 1,000 career kills, and 606 career digs.

 

Bartman wasn't alone, though, in helping Clarion to the victory.

 

Kaitlyn Anderson had 14 kills as well, and Corinne Manley and Hannah Heeter each added six kills with Manley also getting four blocks and Heeter two. Rebecca Webb chipped in with five kills.

 

Amanda Gough had a solid all-around game with 39 set assists, nine digs, two blocks, a kill and an ace with Rhianon Brady – 25 digs – and Kayla Rodak – eight digs – helping to lead the defense.

 

The victory raises Clarion's record to 26-3 overall and 17-1 in the PSAC-West. The worst the Golden Eagles can do is finish in a tie for the PSAC-West title with Edinboro if the Fighting Scots win their final two matches, Edinboro was playing third-place California Tuesday night but results weren't available and Clarion loses at Gannon Friday, but the Golden Eagles win the tiebreaker with Edinboro based on having won four sets against the Fighting Scots this year to three sets won by Edinboro.

 

Clarion closes out the regular season at 7 p.m. Friday at Gannon before hosting an opening-round PSAC playoff match Tuesday against an opponent still to be determined, although it appears that opponent will be Gannon.

 

NOTES – Clarion has won one PSAC Title in 1988 … It marks the eighth time in school history Clarion has won at least 26 matches and the second year in a row – Clarion went 26-10 last year … The Golden Eagles, who entered the week ranked No. 2 in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region – Edinboro was ranked No. 1 in the poll that came out Oct. 27 before Clarion beat Edinboro 3-0 Saturday – are looking for their seventh NCAA Division II playoff berth since 2002 … Harrison is now 96-34 in her four seasons at Clarion. The 96 wins are the third most in school history, and her .738 winning percentage is the second-best in school history and the best by a coach who has coached more than 100 matches for the Golden Eagles.