CLARION, Pa. – Looking for their fourth straight trip to the PSAC semifinals, the Clarion University women's volleyball team starts PSAC postseason play at 7 p.m. Tuesday with a trip to California.
 
“We are definitely excited to be here,” Clarion head coach Jennifer Mills said. “I'm excited for the girls and excited for the program.”
 
The third-seeded Golden Eagles (23-10 overall, 13-6 PSAC West) have a had a surprising year in what was considered to be a rebuilding season going in after losing a number of key players that helped them to the 2010 PSAC and Atlantic Region championship, NCAA Tournament bids in 2009, 2010 and 2011 and PSAC semifinal appearances all three seasons.
 
“I don't think anyone expected us to be at this point at the start of the year,” Mills said. “We worked really hard early on to get here.”
 
Clarion, seeded fourth in the Atlantic Region, started the season with 22 wins in its first 27 games and will be looking to recapture some of that magic after a rough patch down the stretch that saw it finish the season with three straight losses and losses in five of its final six matches, albeit against some of the toughest competition in the region.
 
“We hit some rough patches,” Mills said. “But we had a good day of practice (Monday), and I have the confidence the girls can back to where they where at earlier in the season. I know they are capable of doing that.”  
 
On offense, Clarion is led by senior middle hitter Rebecca Webb who leads the team in kills (285, 2.48 per set), hitting percentage (.317 – 285 kills, 67 errors, 687 attempts) and blocks (106, 0.92 per set). Webb has at least nine kills in nine of her last 13 matches.
 
“I'm excited for her,” Mills said. “She has had a good senior year not only on the court, but she has moved into more of a leadership role as well. I want her to finish the way she started.”
 
Emily Stewart, a junior outside hitter, actually is slightly ahead of Webb in kills-per-set with 2.63 (281 kills) while adding 228 digs (2.13 per set).
 
Also for the Golden Eagles, Hannah Heeter has 251 kills (2.20 per set) while hitting .245 (251-103-604) and adds 95 blocks (0.83 per set) and 83 digs. Sophomore outside hitter Carlie Bieranowski chips in with 158 kills (1.40 per set) and 208 digs (2.19 per set), and junior middle hitter Corinne Manley has 158 kills (1.40 per set), 104 blocks (0.92 per set) and hits .222 (158-66-414).
 
For most of the season, sophomore setter Laura Subject has run the offense and has 1,029 set assists (9.44 per set) while adding 269 digs (2.47 per set), 79 kills and 32 blocks. But Subject missed Clarion's two matches over the weekend with an injury.

“We think Robot (Subject's nickname) will be back,” Mills said. "She practiced Monday, and now we just need to see how she reacts." 
 
If Subject can't go against Cal, senior Rebecca Beightol will step in. Beightol has 85 set assists, 24 digs and 19 kills in limited action. She had 59 of those set assists over the weekend.
 
Senior first-year starting Libero Rebecca Ferragonio spearheads Clarion's defense with a team-leading 573 digs (4.98 per set).
 
California (27-6, 15-4), the top-ranked team in the Atlantic Region, is a strong-hitting team (.264) that runs a two-setter offense.
 
The Vulcans top offensive players are senior outside hitter Brandy Harris (348 kills, 3.14 per set; .249 hitter), senior opposite-side hitter/setter Kelly Fromknecht (244 kills, 2.37 per set; .303 hitter; 527 set assists, 5.12 per set; 94 blocks, 0.91 per set), senior middle hitter Meghan Franz (232 kills, 2.25 per set; .360 hitter; 111 blocks, 1.08 per set) and senior opposite-side hitter Bridget Bielich (142 kills, 1.53 per set; 2.87 hitter).
 
Junior setter Anny Freund also plays a key role in the offense with a team-best 704 assists (6.23 per set).
 
Junior Molly Delaney paces the Cal defense with 432 digs (4.15 per set) with Harris adding 316 digs (2.85 per set), Freund 254 digs (2.25 per set) and Fromknecht 219 (2.13 per set).   
 
The Vulcans beat Clarion both time in the regular season winning 3-2 at Cal Oct. 12 and 3-0 at Clarion Nov. 3.
 
“The biggest challenge Cal presents is stopping their right-side,” Mills said. “They also did a good job against us when they were out of their sets.
“We need to take bigger swings on offense, and we need to be better defending their tendencies.”  
 
NOTES – The winner of Tuesday's match will play the winner of the Millersville at Lock Haven (PSAC East 4 vs. PSAC East 1) match Friday on the home court of the highest remaining seed from the PSAC West. In order for Clarion to host the PSAC semifinals and championship this weekend, the Golden Eagles would have to beat California Tuesday and have fourth-seeded Mercyhurst knock off PSAC West champion Gannon. Otherwise, Gannon will host the PSAC semifinals and championship this weekend … Last year, Clarion was the third seed in the PSAC West and beat second-seeded Edinboro 3-2 on the road to advance to the PSAC semifinals.