CALIFORNIA, Pa. – A valiant comeback attempt by the Clarion University's women's volleyball team fell just short, as homestanding California handed the Golden Eagles their first loss of the season, 3-2, in a key midseason PSAC West match Friday night.
 
The Golden Eagles (14-1 overall, 4-1 PSAC) fell behind 2-0 quickly losing the first two matches by scores of 25-20 and 25-23.
 
But any thoughts California (12-4, 5-0) had of making it a quick night were dashed when Clarion rallied to take the next two sets by scores of 25-22 and 25-17.
 
Mackenzie Biggs and Hannah Heeter led the Golden Eagle scoring attack in the third set with Biggs gathering two kills and three blocks and Heeter a kill and three blocks in the set to help Clarion get back in the match.
 
Then in the fourth set, Heeter joined Carlie Bieranowski in taking over the set with Heeter recording six kills and a block and Bieranowski adding five kills.
 
Cal, though, rallied in the fifth set running off six of the match's final seven points to erase an 11-9 deficit and the set and win it 15-12.
 
Heeter had a monster match for the Golden Eagles with 17 kills, seven blocks and six digs while hitting .378 (17 kills, 3 errors, 37 attempts). Bieranowski added 12 kills and 12 digs to go with a pair of blocks. Emily Stewart chipped in nine kills and 16 digs, while Corinne Manley had five kills and two blocks.
 
Laura Subject once again ran the offense with 41 set assists while adding seven digs, four kills and three blocks. Morgan Seybold paced Clarion defensively with 27 digs with Lauren Magalski adding 20.
 
The Golden Eagles, who fell one victory short of tying the school record for best starts at 15-0 (1973) while try to get a new streak started Saturday when they travel to Seton Hill for their first-ever PSAC West match with the Griffins, who joined the conference this season.