LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University volleyball team erased a two-set deficit, but couldn't quite complete the comeback in a narrow five-set loss at Lock Haven University Friday night.
 
After falling in the first two sets 31-29 and 25-15, Slippery Rock fought back with 25-22, 25-19 wins to force a deciding set before being edged by the Bald Eagles 18-16.
 
The loss drops The Rock's record to 8-5 on season overall and 0-1 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference competition. Lock Haven improves to 8-5 overall and 1-0 in league matches with the win.
 
Already down 2-0, Slippery Rock avoided the shutout with a decisive win in the third set. SRU took the opening four points of the set and never trailed as it extended its lead out to as many as seven points on two separate occasions on the way to a 25-22 win.
 
LHU appeared poised to end the match in four sets as it rebounded from its third-set defeat by jumping out to a seemingly insurmountable 8-0 lead in the fourth. However, Slippery Rock slowly chipped away at its deficit and eventually forced a 16-16 tie. SRU went on to record three straight points to move ahead 19-16. LHU clawed to within two points of The Rock at 21-19, but SRU staved off the comeback by tallying the set's final four points for a 25-19 win. Lamija Alisic had five kills in the set and Haley Defibaugh provided back-to-back aces to force a fifth set.
 
SRU once again found itself in a hole early in the fifth after Lock Haven took the game's first four points, but Slippery Rock once again battled back and even pushed its way out to an 11-8 lead. However, The Rock's sensational rally came up just short as Lock Haven was able to overcome SRU's three-point edge and eek out a tight 18-16 match-clinching victory.
 
Alisic finished the match with a season-high 10 kills. Kaley Fucci added 10 kills as well while Brooke Bostwick and Stephanie Jacobsen chipped in nine and eight kills, respectively. The trio of Shayla Ray, Erinn Kahoe and Kelsey Boyle all added seven kills apiece with Ray also registering a team-best five blocks (one solo / four assisted).
 
Defibaugh concluded the evening with a match-high four aces to go with 20 assists and 16 digs. Fellow setter Zoe Rivet passed out a season-best 30 assists as well.
 
Courtney Oberlander led all Rock players with 36 digs and backup defensive specialist Jalyn Willard contributed 18 digs and a pair of aces in what was another strong showing for the freshman.
 
As a team, Lock Haven led Slippery Rock in both hitting percentage (.175 - .098) and blocks (10 – 8).
 
Slippery Rock will look to snap its five-match losing streak with a victory at Pitt-Johnstown on Saturday at 1 p.m.


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