CLARION, Pa. — Clarion (7-6, 1-0 PSAC) gained a measure of revenge for a loss earlier this season on Friday night, beating Shippensburg in a four-set match at Tippin Gymnasium. The Golden Eagles secured the victory with scores of 25-15, 24-26, 25-23, and 25-22.
The match featured a strong defensive performance by Clarion, highlighted by their 92 digs and 12 total blocks.
Finley Kearney and
Grayson Kinsman led the way at the net with five blocks apiece while four players recorded 16 or more digs, led by
Haley Fledderjohann's 26-dig effort. The Golden Eagles held the Raiders to a .086 attack percentage.
The individual highlight of the match came courtesy of
Natalie Karrick. The freshman posted a rare triple-double against the Raiders, totaling 11 kills, 22 assists and 16 digs to torment Shippensburg on offense as well as on defense. Karrick hit .391 for the match, garnering her 11 kills on 23 attempts with just two errors.
Clarion opened the match with a decisive first set, establishing an early lead with strong performances from
Natalie Karrick and
Raegan Stader. Karrick's early kills were instrumental in setting the tone, while
Claire Bickett contributed with a service ace as part of a 6-0 run to open the set.
As the set progressed, Clarion capitalized on the Raiders' errors while continuing to execute plays effectively.
Lauren Fjerstad's recorded service aces on back to back attempt to make it 14-3, and Stader solidified the team's lead with kills at 18-10 and 19-12 before
Karlee Berchtold closed it at 25-15.
Shippensburg rallied in the second set, scoring six of the last seven points to erase a 23-20 deficit and win 26-24. Clarion began with a strong offensive push, securing the first three points with contributions from Bickett and
Haley Fledderjohann, as well as a service ace by
Kylie Barto. Clarion maintained momentum, reaching a 5-1 lead with a kill from Karrick. However, the Raiders responded, catching up and leveling the score at 5-5. The teams exchanged points, with Stader and Kearney scoring crucial kills to keep the set competitive. The Raiders fought back to tie the score at 17-17. The set closed with both teams trading points, but the Raiders ultimately edged out Clarion, sealing the set 26-24 with a service ace by Hailey Cappleman.
The third set began with Clarion overcoming an early deficit after the Raiders' Kearstin Davis delivered a service ace to take the initial lead. Clarion responded effectively with crucial plays by Bickett and Stader, leveling the score multiple times and eventually edging ahead at 14-12 with a series of kills and an ace from Karrick.
A key miscue in the third set helped the Golden Eagles edge out the Raiders, giving them the set 25-23 and putting them ahead 2-1 in the match. With the score tied at 20-20, Shippensburg was called for being out of rotation, breaking a stalemate that had been brewing for some time. Barto followed that up with a much more conventional service ace, dropping a serve in to make it 22-20. The Raiders got to 24-23 but Karrick finished off the set, hitting down the line for the final point.
The fourth set was another nailbiter, and again the Golden Eagles' advantage at the service line paid dividends. This time it was Fjerstad who took advantage, recording an ace to break a 20-20 tie. Fjerstad's next serve led to a misplay by the Raiders, making it 22-20, and the duo of Karrick and Kearney logged a block on match point for the win.
