CLARION, Pa. — Edinboro (7-8, 2-3 PSAC) defeated the Golden Eagles volleyball team (8-10, 2-3 PSAC) in a four-set match at Tippin Gymnasium on Saturday, winning 3-1 (25-20, 25-14, 24-26, 25-15). Clarion trailed 2-0 but authored a remarkable comeback in the third to force a fourth set, but the Golden Eagles could not finish off the rally against the Fighting Scots.
In the third set, Clarion mounted a significant comeback after trailing early against Edinboro. Despite initial setbacks, including attack errors and service errors, the Golden Eagles' offense began to find its rhythm.
Finley Kearney and
Karlee Berchtold each contributed key kills, while
Marisa Markou's service ace sparked a rally that cut into Edinboro's lead and made it 22-17.
Berchtold was the one that drove the set comeback, putting together a stretch of five straight points that turned the emotional tide in Clarion's favor. With the Golden Eagles behind 24-21, Berchtold recorded kills on three straight points, and then solo blocked Reilly Parent to tie the set at 24. She teamed up with
Julia Rodriguez on the next point to give Clarion the lead, again blocking Parent, and Parent was called for a net violation on set point to give the Golden Eagles a 26-24 win.
That proved the be the high point of the day for the Golden Eagles, though, as the Fighting Scots otherwise held them in check.
Clarion opened the first set against Edinboro with an exchange of points, highlighted by kills from
Claire Bickett and
Natalie Karrick. After initially trailing, the Golden Eagles capitalized on several Edinboro errors to level the score at 4-4. A service ace by Karrick and a successful block by
Grayson Kinsman and
Emily Klopp briefly pushed the team ahead 7-4.
The Fighting Scots responded with a series of blocks and a service ace to regain the lead 14-11.
Grayson Kinsman and Kearney each provided crucial kills, but an extended run of effective blocking and errors allowed the visitors to build a decisive advantage. Despite a late effort with kills from Bickett and
Raegan Stader, Clarion concluded the set trailing, with the scoreboard at 25-20 in favor of Edinboro.
The second set was decided in large part due to an 8-0 run by the Fighting Scots that gave them a 16-9 advantage, a lead they continued to build on for the remainder of the game. Grace Petro made it 23-14 with a service ace and later had a kill on set point, giving the Edinboro a 2-0 advantage. After the Golden Eagles' win in the third set the Fighting Scots buckled down again, going on another 8-0 run to open up a 17-8 lead en route to the win.
