SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University volleyball team went toe-to-toe with undefeated Shepherd University Saturday at Morrow Field House, but ultimately lost to the Rams in four sets (26-24, 25-27, 25-23, 25-19).
 
The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference defeat drops The Rock's record to 7-11 on the season overall and 2-4 in league matches while Shepherd improves to 18-0 overall and 6-0 in conference competition.
 
After narrowly losing the opening set by two points, Slippery Rock found itself trailing the Rams 18-14 to open the second set, but rallied back to register six consecutive points to pull ahead 20-18 before the Rams ended the run with two straight points to tie the set at 20-20.
 
The Rock and Rams went on to trade points through the remainder of the set until SRU forced an attack error followed by a kill from Abigail Koeller to earn a 27-25 victory to even the match. Slippery Rock's second-set victory against the Rams marked just the second set Shepherd has lost over its last 11 matches.
 
Shepherd fought its way to a 24-19 lead in the third set, but Slippery Rock continued to battle as it rattled off four consecutive points to pull within one point of the Rams. However, The Rock's comeback bid was halted after a kill by Peyton Lindblad secured a 25-23 win for Shepherd, giving SU a 2-1 match lead.
 
Slippery Rock could never quite recover from an 8-1 Shepherd run that started the fourth set as the Rams closed out the match with a 25-19 win to stay perfect in 2019.
 
As a team, Slippery Rock tallied a season-high 13 total blocks. The 13 rejections were the most by a Rock team since a 14-block showing against Notre Dame over a year ago on Sept. 9, 2017.
 
The Rock's front line trio of Erinn Kahoe, Abigail Nigon and Sophie Varndell all had big days. Kahoe recorded seven blocks (one solo / six assisted) while Nigon totaled six (one solo ./ five assisted) and Varndell had four (all assisted).
 
Koeller ended the match with a team-high 12 kills to go with one ace and two blocks. Varndell added 11 kills and Kaley Fucci produced 10 kills, 21 digs and an ace while Kahoe rounded out SRU's leading attackers with a season-high eight kills.
 
In addition to her 39 assists, Zoe Rivet got involved in The Rock's block output with four of her own. Stephanie Jacobsen again served as SRU's libero and matched Fucci for a team-best 21 digs.
 
For the match, the Rams held advantages over Slippery Rock in kills (56-45), attack percentage (.151-.125) and aces (6-2). SRU boasted a 13-11 edge in blocks. Both teams made nine serving errors.
 
Slippery Rock will close out its three-match homestand when it hosts Clarion University 7 p.m. Oct. 15 for its annual Dig for the Cure match at Morrow Field House.



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