CLARION, Pa. – The Clarion volleyball team rallied to tie midway through but couldn't complete the comeback, falling 3-1 (13-25, 25-19, 21-25, 18-25) to the IUP Crimson Hawks on Tuesday.  The Golden Eagles (16-12, 10-6 PSAC) will close their regular season this weekend when they travel to take on California (Pa.) and Seton Hill.
 
Taylor Braunagel notched a match-high 17 kills while teammate Marissa Robertson posted a double-double of 10 kills and a team-high 18 digs.  Libero Catherine Ferragonio tied that mark with 18 digs of her own and also posted three assists, and Morgan Herold was the third Golden Eagle to finish with 18 digs.  Leah Vensel dished out a match-high 39 assists.
 
The Golden Eagles hit just .089 over the course of four sets as IUP was slightly more efficient, hitting .159 in the match.  The biggest difference game in the fourth set, where IUP hit .121 and held Clarion to a negative hitting percentage.
 
IUP controlled the first set easily but Clarion rallied back to take the second with a late run.  Olivia Olson broke an 11-11 tie with a kill and Bruanagel tacked on to make it a 13-11 lead on the next point.  The advantage reached 22-18 just before an IUP timeout thanks to another kill by Braunagel, and Mackenzie Biggs forced set point with a kill at 24-19.  Robertson finished off the set with a kill at 25-19.
 
The Crimson Hawks survived a very tight third set, going on a 6-2 run after breaking a 19-19 tie to take the third set by a 25-21 score.  The fourth set went in favor of IUP, with Breanna Damiani closing out the set and the match with a service ace.