HUNTINGDON, Pa. – The Clarion volleyball team survived a wild five-set match on the road on Tuesday, defeating Juniata 3-2 (17-25, 25-20, 25-21, 20-25, 15-12) in a non-conference matchup.  The Golden Eagles (8-6) will be back in action this weekend when they head on the road for PSAC play.
 
Mackenzie Biggs went off offensively with 16 kills on 43 attempts, committing just three errors for a .302 hitting percentage.  Two-time reigning PSAC Southwest Athlete of the Week Taylor Braunagel was just behind her with 15 kills on the night, while Marissa Robertson recorded a double-double with 11 kills and 20 digs.
 
Defensively, Catherine Ferragonio added a team-high 21 digs, Robertson had 20, and two others – Braunagel and Leah Vensel – each broke double-digits in the category.  Lauryn Driscoll added five blocks.
 
The setting duo of Vensel and Kaley Pittsley were also successful, combining for 46 assists as the Golden Eagles came back for the victory.
 
Juniata raced out to a big lead in the first set and took it by a 25-17 score, but Clarion responded with a runaway victory of their own in the second set.  Julia Holden put Clarion ahead 18-11 with a kill and forced a Juniata timeout in the process, and Olivia Olson quashed a rally with a kill to make it 23-18.  Braunagel forced set point with a kill and a bad set by the Eagles gave Clarion the set victory.
 
The third set played much closer, with Clarion pulling away in the middle thanks to a 4-0 run that included a block by Biggs and Olson.  Juniata pulled to within one point but Biggs responded with another kill.  Holden made it 24-20 with a kill and Braunagel delivered the third set with a kill of her own.
 
The Eagles claimed the fourth set but Clarion was there to take the fifth, taking a late lead when Braunagel's kill made it 9-8.  Holden and Biggs bashed kills to break another tie, making it 12-10, and an error by Juniata's Nakita Gearhart gave Clarion the win.