SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University volleyball team lost a tightly-contested Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division match to Indiana University (Pa.) in three sets Saturday on Senior Day at Morrow Field House.
 
IUP (15-14, 6-9 PSAC West) was able to narrowly better The Rock (5-28, 1-13 PSAC West) in the opening two sets 26-24 and 25-23 before pulling away for a 25-12 victory in the third and deciding set.
 
Despite the loss, Slippery Rock produced a solid performance in its 2021 home finale as SRU closed the contest with a .231 attack percentage in addition to tallying six total blocks. Slippery Rock's attack percentage against the Crimson Hawks represented SRU's second-highest of the season behind only a .296 showing against Roberts Wesleyan on Sept. 4.
 
Erica Selfridge paced The Rock's efforts Saturday with a great showing that included 12 kills on a .267 attack percentage in addition to making seven digs.
 
The rest of SRU's attack was a well-rounded effort as six other players accumulated multiple kills including Chelsie Wheeler (6), Lauren Crytzer (5), Paige Weeder (4), Tiara Teague (4), Alayna Chizmar (3) and Sydney Ryan (2).
 
Taylor Fellers and Peytan Gullickson guided the offense with 18 and 10 assists, respectively. Fellers and Kate Lachendro also accounted for both of SRU's aces.
 
Wheeler and Teague were stellar in the middle as well with Wheeler registering five blocks (one solo / four assisted) and Teague close behind with four assisted blocks of her own. Lachendro aided SRU's defense with 11 digs.
 
The opening two sets could have gone either way as the two evenly-matched teams traded points and small runs through the duration of both bouts.
 
However, Indiana claimed the opener by going on a 4-1 run to pull off a 26-24 comeback victory followed by overcoming an 18-16 Rock lead in the second set courtesy of a set-ending 8-5 spurt on the way to another two-point win at 25-23.
 
A nine-point run early in the third set proved too much for SRU to overcome as Indiana earned a 25-12 win in the third to finish out the match. Nicole Peterson led the Crimson Hawks with 13 kills.

Prior to Saturday's match, SRU recognized its senior class of Teague, Crytzer, Cacey Cook and Lauren Weber for their contributions to the program over their careers.
 
Slippery Rock returns to competition 7 p.m. Nov. 12 at Gannon University.
 
 
 
 
 
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