INDIANA, Pa. – The Clarion volleyball team put forth a strong effort against the sixth-ranked team in the nation, as the Golden Eagles fell by a score of 3-0 (25-18, 25-14, 25-21) to #6 Palm Beach Atlantic at a match played in Indiana.  The Golden Eagles will return to action tomorrow with a pair of matches at the tournament hosted by IUP.

Senior Catherine Ferragonio was a force on defense, notching a match-high 24 digs in just three sets for an 8.00 digs per set average. Offensively, Taylor Braunagel led the way by tying the match-high with 13 kills.  Olivia Olson delivered a fairly well-rounded performance with six kills and seven total blocks on the evening, and the Golden Eagles recorded 10 total team blocks against the Sailfish.

The Golden Eagles' best set of the night came in the third, when they matched the Sailfish point for point until falling just short at the very end of the frame.  Clarion erased Palm Beach Atlantic's early 8-5 lead to knot it up at 8-8, starting with a kill by Julia Holden.  Holden and Olson combined to block Molly Burkhardt to make it 8-7, and Olson blasted a kill on the next point to end the run.  From there the Sailfish couldn't get much separation from Clarion as the Golden Eagles dogged them for the rest of the set.  Holden struck again to tie the set at 20 with a kill, but Palm Beach Atlantic gained their footing and scored five of the final six points of the game to take the match.

Clarion started the night with a 4-0 run against their nationally-ranked competition, with Holden and Olson bouncing kills on back-to-back points to start and then teaming for a block to make it 3-0 in the first set.  A 12-2 run from the Sailfish followed, however, and Palm Beach Atlantic drew first blood with a 25-18 first set.  Kaitlyn Glaser gave Clarion a 3-1 lead early in the second set and Braunagel made it 4-2 a few points later, but the Sailfish again stormed to a big lead and took the set 25-14.