SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University volleyball team played No. 20 Gannon tough for the duration of Friday night's match, but ultimately lost in four sets (23-25, 25-20, 25-16, 25-16) to the nationally ranked Golden Knights.
 
The Rock's (10-16, 7-10 PSAC) first set win over Gannon (27-1, 16-1 PSAC) was just the second set that the Golden Knights have lost in their last seven matches.  
 
SRU held leads in all four sets on Friday and improved drastically in nearly every statistical category compared to its first match against Gannon earlier this season, which resulted in a three-set loss on the road.
 
Senior Shayla Ray led The Rock's efforts on Friday with a team-high 10 kills, a .348 attack percentage and a pair of blocks. She now ranks fourth in the PSAC this season in hitting percentage with a mark of .314.
 
Senior Beth Stumpf and junior Kaley Fucci finished just shy of the 10-kill plateau at eight kills each. Both players recorded double-doubles against GU thanks to 10 and 15 digs, respectively. Fucci also made two blocks and served one ace.
 
Sophomore Erinn Kahoe registered a Rock-high three aces to increase her season-best total to 36. She'll head into Saturday's season-finale against Mercyhurst University needing two aces to finish the year with the most aces in a season since 2012. In addition to her serving prowess, Kahoe also tallied seven kills and two blocks.
 
Freshman Gabby Huck rounded out The Rock's attack with four kills. Junior setter Zoe Rivet directed the offense with 33 assists while also posting 12 digs, two aces, one kill and one block of her own. Sophomore libero Jalyn Willard produced 20 digs to maintain her PSAC Northwest Division best 5.03 digs per set.
 
For the match, Gannon held advantages over Slippery Rock in kills (58-38), attack percentage (.245-.117), aces (10-7) and blocks (7-5). The Golden Knights were led by Ally Smith, who had 17 kills and two aces.
 
SRU will close out its 2018 season 1 p.m. Saturday against Mercyhurst at Morrow Field House on Senior Day. Slippery Rock defeated the Lakers in four sets on the road earlier in the season. Prior to Saturday's match.
 
 

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