SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University volleyball team lost to Gannon University, 3-0 (25-15, 25-17, 25-21), Saturday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Northwest Division competition at Morrow Field House.
 
Saturday's match marked the end of Slippery Rock's (9-14, 1-10 PSAC) first round of PSAC Northwest matches. SRU will now play four matches against teams from the PSAC Southwest Division before ending the regular season with a second round of PSAC Northwest contests against Edinboro, Mercyhurst and Gannon (19-4, 9-2 PSAC).
 
Brooke Bostwick recorded seven kills and one block to pace The Rock with Stephanie Jacobsen and Shayla Ray chipping in six and five kills, respectively. Ray also tallied one block. Lamija Alisic and Kelsey Boyle, who had two blocks of her own, came off the bench to register three kills apiece.
 
Haley Defibaugh compiled a double-double with 13 assists and 10 digs while fellow setter Zoe Rivet added 10 assists.
 
Defensively, Courtney Oberlander made a Rock-best 19 digs. The senior exits the weekend with 1,740 career digs, the third most in program history. She is 41 digs away from passing Bev Rea for second place in school history. Jalyn Willard displayed her serving prowess with a match-high two aces. She has produced four aces in The Rock's last two matches.
 
SRU had early leads in all three sets, but Gannon, which received votes in the most recent American Volleyball Coaches Association top-25 poll, was able to pull away with key runs in each game.
 
The Golden Knights used a 15-5 spurt in the opener to jump out to a 20-11 lead before closing the set, 25-15. SRU led the second set 10-9, but Gannon countered by scoring nine of the next 10 points to take an 18-11 lead en route to a 25-17 win. Slippery Rock led 15-13 in the final set, but GU recorded six consecutive points to move ahead 19-15 on the way to a 25-21 match-clinching victory.
 
Kelsey Ansec paced the Golden Knights with 15 kills and four blocks (one solo / three assisted). As a team, Gannon recorded a .271 attack percentage, nine blocks and one ace.
 
Slippery Rock returns to action 7 p.m. Oct. 27 when it hosts Cheyney at Morrow Field House. The match will also serve as The Rock's annual Dig for the Cure contest.


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