Clarion Golden Eagles (24-3, 14-2 PSAC West) vs. IUP Crimson Hawks (20-7, 10-6 PSAC West)
Wednesday, November 9 // 7 p.m.
Clarion, Pa. // Tippin Gymnasium
 
CLARION, Pa. --- Tippin Gymnasium will host a postseason event for the first time since 2015, when the second-seeded Golden Eagle volleyball team welcomes third-seeded IUP to the friendly confines for the quarterfinal round of the 2022 PSAC Volleyball Tournament.
 
The reigning PSAC champions, Clarion enters the tournament with a 24-3 overall record and a 14-2 record in the PSAC West division. After going undefeated in the first trip through the division, the Golden Eagles dropped a pair of matches down the stretch, putting them as the second seed in this year's West bracket. That still represents a chance to play at least one more match in front of the home crowd, the first such opportunity for the team since hosting Gannon in the 2015 playoffs.
 
The Golden Eagles' record against IUP has been something of a mixed bag in recent years, though Clarion swept the regular season meetings with the Crimson Hawks in 2022. They won the first by a 3-1 score, defeating IUP at Tippin Gymnasium, and just two weeks ago swept the Crimson Hawks at the Kovalchick Center. That said, the Golden Eagles have just a 6-4 record in the last 10 matches with IUP, though they are 4-2 in the last six matches played in Clarion.
 
One area where the Golden Eagles appear to have an advantage will be on offense. Clarion hit a combined .297 in two matches against the Crimson Hawks this year, with setter London Fuller averaging 10.29 assists per set in the two matches while working the ball around to a host of different attackers. Cassidy Snider and Julia Piccolino each averaged better than 4.40 kills per set in the two matches, with the outstanding outside hitter duo each finishing with 31 total kills in the season series. That trio, along with middle hitter Lauren Aichinger, will figure to provide a diverse offensive attack against the Crimson Hawks.