CLARION, Pa. – Behind 12 kills apiece from Carlie Bieranowski and Taylor Braunagel, the Clarion University women's volleyball team rebounded from its first loss of the season to beat visiting IUP 3-0 Tuesday evening at Tippin Gym.
 
The Golden Eagles (14-1 overall, 6-1 PSAC West) won by scores of 25-18, 25-21 and 25-15.
 
"I think we responded well to the loss Saturday," Clarion's eighth-year head coach Jennifer Mills, who saw her team beaten for the first time this season by California (Pa.) over the weekend, said. "We had a lot to fix and really only one day to work on it. I was happy with our adjustments. We still have some things to wok on, but overall we adjusted well."
 
Clarion's defense, especially its blocking, was key to the victory. The Golden Eagles limited IUP (6-8, 2-5) to .053 hitting (29 kills, 23 errors, 113 attempts) while recoding eight blocks and numerous other plays that forced the Crimson Hawks into attacks that were of a lower percentage.
 
"Our blocking was better tonight," Mills said. "We were blocking better in zones."
 
The Golden Eagles offense was also strong with the Golden Eagles rebounding from their second worst hitting game of the season Saturday to hit .229 (43-18-109).
 
It was a team effort with freshman Gabrielle Olson leading the way with a .300 hitting percentage (5 kills, 2 errors, 10 attempts). Bieranowski hit .216 (12-4-37) and completed a double-double with 13 digs while also adding a block. Mackenzie Biggs chipped in with six kills, while Abbey Cox added five kills and four blocks.
 
Laura Subject continued her strong play with 37 set assists while adding four digs, a kill and a block.
 
The defense was paced by Morgan Seybold's 21 digs, and Catherine Ferragonio chipped in 10 digs.
 
Clarion took control of the first set early using an 8-3 run that featured three Bieranowski kills to take an 11-5 lead that remained at six points, 14-8, before a 5-0 IUP run got the Crimson Hawks back within one, 14-13.
 
IUP was then able to tie the set at 15 before the Golden Eagles scored 10 of the next 13 points thanks to three more kills and a service ace by Bieranowski.
 
The second set was back-and-forth early one with IUP grabbing an early 8-7 lead before an 8-3 Clarion run that saw Braunagel record three kills put Clarion ahead 15-11.
 
IUP was able to close within one a couple of times, the last being at 18-17, before two more Braunagel kills helped put the Golden Eagles up 2-0.
 
The third set was tight for a while with the teams tied at 11 before Clarion went on a set- and match-ending 14-4 run that saw Braunagel lead a balanced effort with two kills. She was one of eight Clarion players to score via either a kill or an ace during the match-deciding run.
 
"We served better in the third set," Mills said. "We put the ball where we wanted to and forced them to go to one hitter. That, we could handle."
 
Clarion returns to action with a pair of home matches this weekend. The Golden Eagles host a key PSAC West match with Gannon at 7 p.m. Friday before taking on Mercyhurst at 1 p.m. Saturday at Tippin Gym.  The matches will be Clarion's annual Breast Cancer Awareness Matches with all monies raised going to support The Cancer Center at Clarion Hospital. For more information on how to become a part of the event or to donate money, contact Mills at jmills@clarion.edu or at 814-393-1987.