EDINBORO, Pa. — Clarion (17-8, 8-4 PSAC) fell to Edinboro (11-13, 4-8 PSAC) by a 3-1 match score (21-25, 20-25, 29-27, 29-31) on Saturday. The Golden Eagles fought back after dropping the first two sets to the Fighting Scots, taking the third set and jumping out to a massive lead in the fourth, before Edinboro's improbable comeback proved to be too much.
Clarion bounced back with a 29-27 win in a back-and-forth third set, using its block to separate early. Taylor Haupt and Cara Vandeborne combined for a block before Haupt added another, and Claire Bickett and Finley Kearney teamed up at the net. Kearney followed with a solo block to give the Golden Eagles a 12-8 lead. Wadle, Kearney and Haupt supplied kills as Clarion maintained its advantage through the middle stages. Anne Wadle's kill made it 21-18 before Kearney put the Golden Eagles ahead 23-20. Edinboro answered with four straight points for a 24-23 lead, but Haupt responded with back-to-back kills to put Clarion back in front. The teams traded points from there until an Edinboro attack error gave the Golden Eagles a 28-27 advantage, and Natalie Karrick followed with a service ace to seal the 29-27 win.
The Golden Eagles erased an early 4-1 deficit in the first set, tying the score on a Kalina Powell service ace before a Marisa Markou ace gave them their first match lead. After Edinboro moved back in front 7-6, Clarion responded with kills from Haupt, Karrick and Raegan Stader, with Stader putting down three kills during a stretch that gave the Golden Eagles an 11-8 advantage. Edinboro answered with five straight points to take a 13-11 lead, but Clarion stayed within striking distance behind kills from Kearney, Klopp and Haupt before tying the score at 17-17. The Fighting Scots scored the next three points and eventually built a 23-19 advantage. Haupt answered with two late kills, but Edinboro held for a 25-21 win.
Clarion jumped to a 3-0 lead, with Karrick serving the Golden Eagles through a pair of blocks from Stader and Kearney and a Stader kill in the second set. Edinboro responded and eventually led 14-11 before scoring seven straight points to stretch the margin to 21-11. The Golden Eagles battled back with a late push, winning seven of the next eight rallies to pull within 22-18. Lauren Fjerstad served Clarion through four straight points, including kills from Wadle and Haupt as well as a Fjerstad service ace. Edinboro reached set point at 24-18; Haupt put down a kill, and Vandeborne followed with a block, but the Fighting Scots took the next point to close out the set 25-20.
Clarion built a 19-5 advantage in the fourth set, but Edinboro rallied before eventually taking the frame 31-29. After the teams traded points early, Markou served the Golden Eagles through a four-point run, including an ace and a Vandeborne kill to make it 9-4. After an Edinboro point, Clarion rattled off 10 straight points, with Haupt serving the final nine points. Wadle started the surge with a kill. Then, Haupt recorded three service aces, and Vandeborne assisted three blocks as the Golden Eagles built a 19-5 lead. Edinboro chipped away at the deficit and eventually tied the set at 21-21 before taking a 22-21 lead. Clarion answered with kills from Haupt and Stader as well as a Wadle-Vandeborne block to earn multiple chances to extend the match. Stader's kill gave the Golden Eagles a 29-28 set point, but Edinboro responded with three straight points to take the set 31-29 and finish the match.
Haupt led the Golden Eagles with 17 kills while hitting .293, adding four service aces, eight digs, and 22.5 points. Vandeborne finished with eight total blocks, including three solo blocks, while adding four kills and five digs. Powell recorded a match-high 21 digs alongside seven assists, while Markou totaled 17 assists, seven digs, and two service aces. Wadle added six kills, a .227 hitting percentage, and three blocks.
Up next, the Golden Eagles return home to host Seton Hill on Nov. 6 at Tippin Gymnasium.
