SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University volleyball team lost to Clarion University, 3-0, Saturday afternoon at Morrow Field House. Clarion (12-9, 6-3 PSAC) managed a narrow 26-24 win in the first set before taking the second and third sets 25-14, 25-16 en route to the 3-0 win.
 
Slippery Rock (8-14, 1-8 PSAC) was led by Shayla Ray and Lamija Alisic. Ray produced a season-high eight kills while Alisic added seven kills as well.
 
Kaley Fucci and Mattie Taggart had two blocks apiece with Fucci also chipping in four kills. Courtney Oberlander made 19 digs, Leah Jones tallied five kills and Haley Defibaugh guided The Rock's offensive attack with a team-high 16 assists to round out SRU's top performers against the Golden Eagles.
 
Slippery Rock jumped out to a quick 8-5 lead in the opening set thanks in part to three kills by Ray and two more from Alisic. Clarion then rallied back with a 6-3 run of its own to pull even with The Rock at 11-11 only to see Slippery Rock counter with a 5-0 spurt to pull ahead 16-11. The Golden Eagles would record 10 of the set's next 12 points to take a seemingly comfortable 21-18 advantage.  
 
Not to be outdone, Slippery Rock clawed back into the game via a 6-3 run to the tie the set up for an eighth time at 24-24. However, Clarion was able to eke out the opening-set 26-24 win with consecutive points off of a Rock attack error and a Taylor Braungagel kill.
 
The Rock played even with Clarion through the opening half of the second set, but with game tied at 9-9 the Golden Eagles pulled off a commanding 11-3 run to take a 20-12 lead before eventually closing out the set 25-14. SRU never led in the third set as Clarion opened up a 13-6 lead on the way to its 25-16 match-clinching win.
 
Braunagel paced Clarion with 12 kills.
 
Slippery Rock starts a four-match road trip 7 p.m. Oct. 21 at Mercyhurst University.