CLARION, Pa. — The Clarion women's volleyball team closed out its non-conference regular-season slate on a high note Tuesday evening, turning in a dominant defensive showcase at the net to defeat visiting Walsh 3-1 (25-11, 21-25, 25-17, 26-24) inside Tippin Gymnasium.
Clarion (17-6) controlled the net from the opening serve, compiling 16.0 total team blocks while holding Walsh (12-12) to an .102 attack percentage. Cara Vandeborne led the defensive blockade with a match-high eight blocks (one solo, seven assisted), while Emily Klopp and Finley Kearney each registered seven block assists. Behind the block, four Golden Eagles reached double figures in digs, anchored by Lauren Fjerstad's match-best 19. Kalina Powell contributed 15 digs, Taylor Haupt collected 14, and Natalie Karrick chipped in 11.
Raegan Stader spearheaded the Clarion attack with a match-high 17 kills on .357 hitting. Haupt added a double-double with 16 kills and 14 digs, and Karrick provided an all-around performance, dishing out 26 assists to go with six kills and two aces. Running the two-setter offense alongside Karrick, Marisa Markou recorded 24 assists, seven digs, and two crucial late aces.
Clarion set the tone immediately in the first set, hitting .233 and generating eight blocks to stifle the Cavaliers. Holding a slim 7-5 lead, the Golden Eagles mounted a decisive 5-0 surge on Vandeborne's serve, which featured a Stader-Kearney block and an ace from Vandeborne. Moments later, Karrick engineered an 8-0 run from the service line to push the advantage to 20-6. Kearney and Haupt put down late kills before Klopp and Vandeborne teamed up on set point to secure a 25-11 victory.
Walsh responded in set two, hitting .209 to pull level in the match. Clarion rallied from a 15-10 deficit behind five kills from Haupt to pull within two at 19-17, but the Cavaliers held off the charge to take the set 25-21.
The Golden Eagles regained momentum in the third frame with their most efficient offensive performance of the night, hitting .412 with 17 kills. Down 9-5 early, Clarion engineered a 5-0 run fueled by Haupt's serving and consecutive kills from Vandeborne and Stader. Stader took over late, hammering six kills in the frame to power Clarion to a 25-17 win and a 2-1 match lead.
The fourth set required a gritty comeback after Walsh opened a 10-5 cushion. Clarion chipped away, tying the frame at 20-20 following a Klopp-Kearney denial. Back-to-back service aces from Markou handed Clarion a 23-22 lead. Walsh battled back to tie the score at 23 and 24, but Stader delivered a clutch kill to earn match point before a Cavalier attack error sealed the 26-24 victory.
