WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The Golden Eagle volleyball team concluded their non-conference schedule with a split on the final day of the Atlantic Region Crossover, defeating Notre Dame College 3-1 (15-25, 25-12, 25-12, 25-12) but falling to host school West Liberty 3-1 (25-23, 15-25, 15-25, 25-27). The loss to the Hilltoppers saw the Golden Eagles' season-opening win streak halted at 10.
In the process,
Abigail Selfridge became the newest member of the 1,000 Dig club at Clarion, finishing with 44 total on the day to surpass the millennium mark in her career.
Clarion 3, Notre Dame College 1
Recap: The Golden Eagles responded to a stunning loss in the first set to the Falcons with three straight set wins, dominating Notre Dame College the rest of the way for their tenth straight win to start the season. After hitting just .024 in the first set, Clarion tightened up the rest of the way while also locking up the Falcon offense.
Julia Piccolino had a team-high 14 kills to go along with 21 digs, while
Abigail Selfridge posted 26 digs in four sets.
Hailey Barden also authored a double-double, posting 11 kills and digging out 12 attacks herself.
Lauren Aichinger added eight kills and six blocks, while
London Fuller dished out 45 assists.
The Falcons controlled the first set, turning an 11-11 tie into a runaway with a 14-4 run that gave them a lead in the overall match. Clarion came back with a vengeance in the second set, opening the next game on a 9-3 run that opened with a service ace by Fuller. A 5-0 run that included two aces by Barden and a kill by Aichinger upped the advantage to 14-4. Piccolino made it 19-7 with a kill, and the Golden Eagles closed with four straight points to take the set at 25-12.
The Golden Eagles embarked on an 8-1 run early in the second set, taking an 11-4 lead on an ace by
Haley Fledderjohann and a kill by Aichinger. Fuller and
Charlie Allison combined to block Brittany Miller to make it an 11-point advantage at 17-6, and Aichinger blocked Kelsie Palmer on set point to help the Golden Eagles to their second straight 25-12 set win. Piccolino started the third set with kills on the first two points, and Clarion never trailed the Falcons in taking the set. Fuller dumped a kill to make it a double-digit lead at 15-5, and Allison made it 20-9 with a kill of her own. Piccolino and Aichinger finished off the Falcons once and for all on match point, blocking Ryleigh Ronald at 25-12.
West Liberty 3, Clarion 1
Recap: The Golden Eagles took the first set against the Hilltoppers but were unable to keep up the momentum as host school West Liberty controlled action in the middle two frames to take a match lead. Clarion had an opportunity to clinch the fourth set, holding leads of 24-20 and 25-24, but the Hilltoppers went on a long run late to ultimately take the win.
Julia Piccolino and
London Fuller each recorded double-doubles, with Piccolino going off for 16 kills and 13 digs and Fuller adding 23 digs to go with her 43 assists.
West Liberty held an 8-4 lead early in the first set before the Golden Eagles countered with a 5-1 run to tie it up at 10-10. The Hilltoppers and Clarion traded leads for much of the rest of the set, with Piccolino tying it at 21 with a kill. An error by the Hilltoppers opened the door for the Golden Eagles and the latter took advantage, with
Amy Regrut and
Hailey Barden bounding kills on back-to-back points to take the set 25-23.
The Hilltoppers countered with strong offense in the following two sets, out-hitting Clarion and beating them 25-15 to take a 2-1 lead in the match. The Golden Eagles took an early lead in the fourth set, going ahead 11-5 on the strength of a kill by Piccolino, and eventually took a 19-12 advantage after Barden aced Kaija Sydlowski. Regrut forced set point with a kill to make it 24-20, but West Liberty rallied and eventually took the set.
