CLARION, Pa. – The Clarion volleyball team took the first set but was unable to capitalize from there, falling 3-1 (25-21, 15-25, 23-25, 17-25) to the California (Pa.) Vulcans at the Studen Rec Center on Friday night.  The Golden Eagles (15-8, 6-4 PSAC) will look to rebound tomorrow when the host Seton Hill at 1 p.m.
 
The Golden Eagles stormed out to an advantage late in the first set to take the advantage in the match, but the Vulcans kicked it up on offense to eventually pull away and win.  Clarion very nearly erased a late deficit to win the third set and take a 2-1 advantage, but California held them off and then took the fourth set.
 
Julia Holden had a team-high 14 kills, while Olivia Olson backed on seven kills and two blocks.  Chrissy Cotton posted 27 digs while Leah Vensel dished out 33 assists. 
 
The Golden Eagles jumped out to a 6-2 lead in the first set, and eventually rode that to an 8-3 run capped by a kill from Vensel.  Marissa Robertson made it a 10-6 advantage with a kill, and the Golden Eagles won the race to 15 points after Holden bounced one.  The Vulcans pulled tighter, making it 23-21 after a kill by Lois Van Schaik, but an ill-timed error by California put Clarion at set point.  Holden and Lauryn Driscoll finished off the set from there, blocking Schaik to take the 25-21 set win.
 
California buckled down in the second set, hitting .320 as a team and opening up an early 13-6 advantage.  The Vulcans maintained their seven-point edge after a Sarah Moehring kill made it 18-11, and they eventually stretched it to double digits with a Moehring ace on set point.  The Vulcans showed resilience in the third set, rallying from a 20-17 deficit to take the lead at 22-21, and eventually took the set 25-23.  They built an early 10-point lead in the fourth set, and rode the advantage to a 25-17 win and the match victory.