WHEELING, W. Va. – The Slippery Rock University volleyball team split a pair of matches Saturday on day two of the Atlantic Region crossover in Wheeling, West Virginia.
 
Following a 3-0 loss to No. 22 Wheeling University, The Rock overcame a 2-0 deficit to defeat Fairmont State in five sets. Slippery Rock exits the weekend with a 5-6 overall record.
 
SRU was led by Kaley Fucci and Logan Whitaker. Over two matches, Fucci totaled 22 kills, 27 digs and five blocks. Whitaker added 23 kills, 36 assists, 15 digs and three blocks.
 
MATCH ONE: Wheeling 3 – Slippery Rock 0
Slippery Rock played the nationally ranked Cardinals tight in all three sets, but Wheeling ultimately benefitted from several crucial runs in each set to pull out a 25-20, 25-15, 25-19 victory.
 
Fucci helped The Rock in all facets of the match, recording 10 kills, 13 digs and four blocks over three sets. Whitaker added eight kills on a .240 hitting percentage, eight assists, seven digs and a block.
 
Stephanie Jacobsen finished third on the team with kills with seven while Tiara Teague added six kills with four blocks inside. Teague's six kills came on a solid .312 attack percentage. Lauren Crytzer chipped in four kills and three blocks as well.
 
Zoe Rivet had 22 assists, Jalyn Willard produced 15 digs and one ace and Lauren Weber served one ace to round out The Rock's top contributors against Wheeling.  
 
Match 2: Slippery Rock 3 – Fairmont State 2
Undeterred by its loss earlier in the day, Slippery Rock salvaged its weekend with a gutsy come-from behind victory in five sets over Fairmont State.
 
After dropping the first two sets to the Fighting Falcons 25-23, 25-19, Slippery Rock battled back to take the third and fourth sets 25-20, 25-22 to force a fifth and deciding set.
 
Slippery Rock and FSU played to an 11-11 tie to begin the fifth set before SRU went on a 4-1 run to end the set and complete the comeback.
 
The Rock's victory over Fairmont State was a complete team effort. Whitaker and Fucci led the attack at 15 and 12 kills, respectively, with Whitaker also adding 28 assists, eight digs and a pair of blocks while Fucci made 14 digs to finish off the double-double effort.
 
The trio of Jacobsen, Abigail Nigon and Sophie Varndell all registered nine kills with Nigon and Varndell matching Teague for the team lead in blocks with three.
 
Rivet passed out 26 assists and served a team-best two aces. Willard, Weber and Danielle Bywalski all posted one ace apiece to go with Willard's team-high 27 digs.
 
Slippery Rock held a solid .238-.202 advantage over Fairmont State in attack percentage. The Rock's hitting percentage was its third highest of the season.
 
UP NEXT
Following 11 straight matches on the road to begin the year, Slippery Rock will host Kutztown University 7 p.m. Sept. 27 at Morrow Field House in what will be The Rock's Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference opener.
 
 

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