CLARION, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University volleyball team fell in three sets on the road at Clarion Friday in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division competition.
 
Clarion (13-1, 3-0 PSAC West), who received votes in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association Top-25 poll, won the match by claiming 25-15, 25-14, 25-16 set victories.
 
Slippery Rock's (4-10, 1-2 PSAC West) efforts Friday was paced by Chelsie Wheeler who finished the match with seven kills and three blocks. Erica Selfridge and Abigail Koeller added five kills and seven digs apiece as well. Jaeden Yost guided the offense with 13 digs.
 
Stephanie O'Donnell added two blocks while Abigail Nigon collected one kill and Maria Lucas served one ace to round out The Rock's leaders.
 
The Rock took the opening two points of the match before Clarion scored six unanswered points to take a lead it would hold for the remainder of the set. Following CU's run Slippery Rock climbed back into the set, but with the score 9-7 the Golden Eagles went on a 9-3 run to open up a comfortable eight-point lead on the way to a 25-15 win.
 
SRU and the Golden Eagles traded points for the early portions of the second set, but a batch of mini runs which turned into a 10-5 Clarion lead. From there, the Golden Eagles steadily built on its lead as The Rock was unable to mount a successful comeback in a 25-14 loss.
 
Clarion jumped out to a 13-8 lead in the third set and appeared poised to run away with win after forcing a Rock timeout. The break in action did wonders for SRU as it proceeded to rattle off four consecutive points to pull within one point of the Golden Eagles at 13-12 heading into a Clarion timeout.
 
However, The Rock's comeback bid ended there as Clarion took advantage of its own timeout by logging five straight points to stretch its lead out to 18-12. The Golden Eagles traded points with The Rock for the remainder of the set for an eventual match-clinching 25-16 victory.
 
Slippery Rock returns to competition 2 p.m. Saturday at Pitt-Johnstown.



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