SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University volleyball team earned an impressive five-set victory over Indiana University (Pa.) Tuesday night in front of a boisterous crowd at Morrow Field House.
 
Tuesday's victory improves Slippery Rock's record to 4-8 overall, but more importunately 1-0 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division. The visiting Crimson Hawks drop to 10-2 overall and 0-1 in league contests following the loss.
 
The Rock and Crimson Hawks split the opening two sets with matching 25-20 wins before IUP took a 25-15 victory in the third. However, SRU avoided the home setback courtesy of a 28-26 victory to force a fifth set that The Rock completely dominated on the way to a convincing 15-4 match-clinching win.
 
Entering the fifth and deciding set on the heels of its dramatic win in the fourth set, Slippery Rock produced its most impressive game of the season as SRU was seemingly unstoppable.
 
Slippery Rock first captured eight consecutive points to start the fifth set as Erica Selfridge led the spirited run with three kills while Callie Chevalier added two kills with Jaeden Yost serving one ace and Abigail Nigon making one block to go with an IUP attack error.
 
Indiana attempted to halt the momentum with a timeout, but could ultimately do little to stop the surging Rock as SRU finished off the victory with a 7-4 run for a 15-4 win.
 
Slippery Rock was nearly perfect in the final set with a .533 attack percentage, two blocks and an ace all the while limiting IUP to a -.100 attack percentage as well as a service error that served as SRU's 15th point.  
 
Selfridge closed the match with a match-high 15 kills as well as 20 digs, two blocks and one ace as part of a double-double performance. Chelsie Wheeler came off the bench to provide The Rock with 10 kills on a solid .316 attack percentage.
 
Mary Berger made her fourth consecutive start, finishing with nine kills via a .529 attack percentage in addition to three blocks (two solo / one assisted). Nigon matched Berger with three blocks as well over three sets played.
 
Chevalier and Abigail Koeller combined for nine kills to round out The Rock's attack.
 
In addition to making a match-best 21 digs, libero Kate Lachendro served a career-high six aces, the fifth highest total in a single-match at SRU over the last 19 years and the most since Zoe Rivet tallied six against West Virginia Wesleyan in 2019.

On a night in which SRU had a team season-high 12 aces, Yost and Maria Lucas added two apiece as well. Slippery Rock's setter combination of Yost (21) and Peytan Gullickson (20) combined for 41 of The Rock's 43 assists versus IUP.
 
Indiana was led by Brooke Little with 12 kills, two aces and two blocks.
 
Slippery Rock is now 9-3 in its last 12 home-openers. Each of The Rock's last four home-openers have gone five sets.
 
Tuesday's match served as SRU's volleyball's inaugural 'Green Out" match. The lively crowed was encouraged to wear green and take part in a serving contest between the second and third sets.
 
SRU will look to carry over its momentum from Tuesday's win into its road match 7 p.m. Friday at Edinboro.
 
 
 
 

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