SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University volleyball team lost in three sets to Clarion Saturday in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division competition at Morrow Field House.
 
After duplicate 25-12 losses in the opening two sets Slippery Rock battled the Golden Eagles in the third set before ultimately falling in a tight 26-24 decision.
 
Saturday's defeat drops The Rock's record to 10-15 overall and 5-7 in the PSAC West. Clarion, which received votes in the most recent American Volleyball Coaches Association Top-25 poll, improves to 21-2 overall and 11-1 in league matches with the win.
 
Stephanie O'Donnell had three kills and three blocks (two solo / one assisted) on the day to help The Rock's efforts while Callie Chevalier posted a team-best seven kills.
 
Aiding in SRU's offensive efforts was Alayna Chizmar with four kills and Abigail Nigon with three kills. Nigon also came away with a pair of blocks. Jaeden Yost, Abigail Koeller and Kate Lachendro all served aces as well with Koeller and Lachendro each making nine digs apiece.
 
Slippery Rock answered a pair of two tough set losses to start the match with what was its best performance of the day in the third set as SRU jumped out to a 10-4 lead thanks in part to two kills each from Chevalier and Chizmar.
 
However, Clarion answered Slippery Rock's early surge with a 19-10 run of its own to take a 23-20 lead. To their credit, The Rock refused to quit as they battled back to tie the set at 24-24 before the Golden Eagles were able to finish off the match by capturing the final two points of the day for a 26-24 win.
 
As a team, Clarion held advantages over The Rock in kills (53-19), attack percentage (.357-.049), aces (5-3) and digs (64-40) while SRU concluded the contest with a 6-4 edge in total blocks. Cassidy Snider had 19 kills in the winning effort for Clarion.
 
Slippery Rock will return to action when it makes its annual Erie, Pennsylvania road trip Oct. 28-29 with matches at Mercyhurst University and Gannon University.





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