CLARION, Pa. – The Golden Eagle volleyball team played a back-and-forth match in their PSAC home opener on Tuesday, but Clarion came up just short in falling 3-0 (22-25, 28-30, 22-25) to Edinboro at Tippin Gym. The match was defined by tight finishes throughout, with the Fighting Scots coming out on top in a contest much closer than the final count indicated.
 
It was far from a one-sided affair as Clarion forced the issue in all three sets. In fact, the Golden Eagles held leads in each of the first two sets of the night, including multiple opportunities to record the set point in the second. Edinboro countered in each of those instances, though, ultimately taking the 3-0 match win.
 
Cassidy Snider finished with a match-high 15 kills while also recording 11 digs for a double-double. Amy Regrut was the most efficient offensive player for the Golden Eagles, finishing with 12 kills and a .455 hitting percentage. London Fuller dished out 45 assists while also recording eight digs, and Abigail Selfridge tallied a team-high 16 digs.
 
One area where Edinboro held the advantage was in team blocks. The Fighting Scots finished with a 7-4 advantage in total blocks, including five alone in the first set. That helped make the difference in the first set despite the fact Clarion held a 21-18 lead at one point. Edinboro rallied from that deficit to score five straight points, taking a 23-21 lead. Aichinger cut the deficit down to one point with a kill, by Michaella Cloonan recorded kills on back-to-back points to take the set 25-22.
 
The most competitive set of the night was by far the second, in that both teams had multiple opportunities to put it away. Clarion had the first bite at the apple when Regrut recorded back-to-back kills to put the Golden Eagles ahead 24-23. Edinboro scored two straight to make it 25-24, and had another chance when they built a 26-25 lead. Regrut delivered the equalizer at 26-26, and an attack error by Alicia Eldgredge once again gave Clarion the shot at set point. However, the teams traded the next two points, and the Fighting Scots eventually scored three straight for the 30-28 set win. The Golden Eagles built an early lead in the third set, going up 15-12, but Edinboro responded by scoring nine of the next 11 points to take a 21-17 lead. Clarion rallied back and tied the score at 22 off consecutive kills by Snider, but the Fighting Scots eventually won the set and the match on a kill by Abby Monn.