INDIANA, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University volleyball team saw its comeback bid fall just short in a five-set loss at Indiana University (Pa.) Friday.
 
After losing the opening two sets 25-20 and 25-18, Slippery Rock responded with identical 25-20 victories over the third and fourth sets to force a fifth and deciding game that the Crimson Hawks were ultimately able to take 15-13.
 
Following the loss, Slippery Rock's record drops to 8-14 overall and 4-6 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division. Meanwhile, Indiana improves to 16-4 overall and 6-3 inside the PSAC West.
 
Abigail Nigon, one of the top middle hitters in the Atlantic Region, finished the match with nine total blocks (one solo / eight assisted) in addition to chipping in three kills. The nine blocks represent the fifth highest single-match total by a Rock athlete over the last 20 years.
 
Freshman Callie Chevalier had another great all-around night as she totaled eight kills, seven blocks and three aces.
 
Erica Selfridge led the Slippery Rock attack with 11 kills on a .200 attack percentage with Abigail Koeller contributing nine kills of her own. Alayna Chizmar came off the bench to provide SRU with four kills as well. Peytan Gullickson guided the SRU offense with 18 assists.
 
Maria Lucas and Jaeden Yost served two aces each. Lucas has now served an ace in nine straight matches. Dating back to the 2008 season, the only Slippery Rock athletes with longer ace streaks are Lauren Rojek (11 / 2013) and Zoe Rive (10 / 2016).  
 
Kate Lachendro rounded out The Rock's top performers with a team-best 18 digs.
 
After losing the opening two sets, SRU played IUP to a 19-19 tie in the third set before Slippery Rock staved off defeat with a 6-1 run on the way to a 25-20 win. Nigon and Chevalier combined for two blocks over the deciding run.
 
The fourth set was another back-and-forth contest, but with the score even at 20-20, Slippery Rock was able to force a fifth set by taking the final five points for another 25-20 victory.
 
SRU took an early 4-1 lead in the fifth set before Indiana mounted a comeback of its own to eventually pull even with The Rock at 5-5.
 
The Rock and Crimson Hawks proceeded to trade points for the remainder of the set until Indiana overcame a 13-12 deficit by taking three straight points to avoid the home loss with a 15-13 match-deciding win.
 
Nicole Peterson led IUP to the victory with a double-double of 19 kills and 11 digs.
 
Friday's match marked The Rock's sixth contest of the season that has gone a full five sets.
 
Slippery Rock steps out of PSAC West competition when it travels to Salem University for a non-conference match 6 p.m. Oct. 18. SRU defeated the Tigers in three sets earlier in the season.





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