Box Score CLARION, Pa. – Behind 22 kills and 22 digs from Emily Stewart, the Clarion University women's volleyball team picked up its 29^th victory of the season with a 3-1 victory over Gannon Friday night at Tippin Gym.
 
"Emily Stewart went off tonight," said Clarion head coach Jennifer Mills.  "That was probably one of the best matches I have seen her play and she stepped up big for us."
 
Clarion won the first set 25-23 before dropping the second 25-23.  The Golden Eagles rallied from an early deficit to take the third 25-22 before closing it out in the fourth set 25-19.
 
To go along with Stewart's 22 kills, Carlie Bieranowski added 13 kills and 12 digs while Hannah Heeter finished with 11 kills.  Corinne Manley chipped in with seven kills and five digs.
 
Morgan Seybold led the Golden Eagle defense with 34 digs while Laura Subject finished with 48 set assists and 12 digs for Clarion.
 
Jordyn Thiery and Hannah Kren each finished with 11 kills for Gannon while Taryn Graham added 25 digs.
 
"I think Gannon is a much better team than they were," said Mills.  "They are a young team and are very well coached and did exactly what they wanted him to do."
 
In the first set, Gannon looked like it was going to pull away leading 19-15 before the Golden Eagles used a 7-3 run to tie the match at 22.  The Golden Eagles then went on to close out the set 25-23 thanks to two kills by Stewart and one from Kelly Shannon.
 
The second set was tight the whole way through.  Clarion led 20-18 which forced Gannon to take a timeout.  The Golden Knights went on a 7-3 run out of the huddle to take a 25-23 set win to even the match at one.
 
In the third set, Gannon (16-12 overall, 11-8 PSAC West) jumped out to a 10-4 advantage but the Golden Eagles used a 7-0 run to take the lead by one.  Clarion took control for the rest of the set before eventually closing it out 25-22.
 
Neither team led by more than three points until late in the fourth set.  The Golden Eagles were able to end the match on a 6-0 run behind kills from Stewart and Bieranowski.
 
With the win, Clarion improves to 29-2 overall and 18-1 in the PSAC West.  The Golden Eagles remain tied for first place in the PSAC West with California University.
 
"For us right now, I am more focused on playing Mercyhurst tomorrow," said Mills.  "They are a great team and we have a lot more work to do.  We can't focus on the playoffs right now."
 
The Golden Eagles return to action tomorrow at 1 p.m. where they will host Mercyhurst for senior day.
 
Story by Jonathan Hooke