CLARION, Pa. — Clarion (8-8, 2-1 PSAC) defeated Seton Hill (8-6, 2-2 PSAC) in a four-set match at Tippin Gymnasium on Saturday, with scores of 25-15, 25-19, 19-25, 25-20. The Golden Eagles' defense stood out with 14 blocks, limiting the Griffins to an .060 team attack percentage and contributing to their conference victory.
Blocks were heavily stacked in favor of the Golden Eagles, and even the touches at the net that did not result in points aided the back row in making defense plays.
Finley Kearney and
Grayson Kinsman led the team with six total blocks, with the former recording three solo blocks and three block assists. Conversely, that helped the back row duo of
Haley Fledderjohann (27 digs) and
Lauren Fjerstad (12 digs) keep the Griffins off the scoreboard.
Offensively,
Raegan Stader had a team-high 13 kills and hit .462, committing just one attack error on 26 swings.
Natalie Karrick recorded four service aces.
Clarion opened the first set strong, quickly overcoming an early 2-0 deficit with a 5-0 run fueled by a kill from
Claire Bickett and blocks from Kearney. The team continued to build momentum, with notable contributions from
Natalie Karrick, who drilled a service ace and delivered multiple assists to help Clarion extend their lead to 9-5.
The Griffins momentarily tied the score at 10-10, but the Golden Eagles responded with a decisive 8-0 run, featuring big plays by
Emily Klopp and
Raegan Stader. Kinsman's service ace and Kearney's blocks further solidified Clarion's advantage, pushing the score to 21-10.
Closing out the set, Clarion maintained control, with Karrick and Stader delivering key kills. Despite a brief rally by the Griffins, Clarion clinched the set 25-15, establishing a strong start to the match.
The second set saw the Golden Eagles establish a strong foothold with a key momentum shift early on. Fjerstad contributed significantly to a 5-0 run with a service ace and a crucial block, setting the tone. Kearney and Klopp each secured valuable kills that maintained their team's lead.
Despite a rally from the Griffins that tied the score at 9-9, Clarion regained control with decisive points from Stader and Bickett. Bickett's late service ace and Kinsman's kill closed the set decisively as Clarion secured the win 25-19, building a lead in the match.
The Griffins won the third set 25-19, going on a run midway through to take the lead for good and eventually sealing the result with a kill by Maddie Stout. Clarion began the fourth set by leveling the score at 2-2 through a block by Kinsman and Bickett, setting the tone for a competitive start. After a brief setback, Clarion rallied with a service ace from Karrick, tying the game at 5-5, and maintained pressure with kills from Klopp and Stader.
Karrick continued to impact the set significantly with kills and a service ace, propelling Clarion to a 13-12 advantage. This momentum allowed Clarion to extend the lead with a series of blocks by Kinsman and Klopp, pushing the score to 19-12.
Despite a late push from the Griffins, Clarion maintained composure and secured the set at 25-20. Key plays by Kearney, including a kill that made it 23-20, helped close out the set.
