SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - In what was an evenly matched contest for the entirety of the night, the Slippery Rock University volleyball team lost its penultimate match of the 2023 season to Indiana University (Pa.) Friday in three sets 32-30, 25-23, 25-22.
 
The narrow defeat moves The Rock's record to 13-15 on the season overall and 5-10 inside the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division while the Crimson Hawks improve to 21-8 overall and 11-4 in league matches.
 
Erica Selfridge turned in an impressive 14-kill, 16-dig double-double that included two aces and a .286 attack percentage. In doing so, Selfridge became the first Rock athlete since Leah Jones in 2016 to reach the 300-kill plateau in a single-season.
 
The trio of Chelsie Wheeler, Callie Chevalier and Mary Berger chipped in five kills apiece. Setter Jaeden Yost accounted for 21 of The Rock's 36 assists in the match in addition to tying Selfirdge for team-high honors in aces with two.
 
Lauren VonderHaar continued her breakout sophomore campaign by tallying three more blocks Friday, pushing her season total to 111. Alayna Chizmar added a pair of rejections as well to go along with four kills and one ace. Kate Lachendro tallied a match-high 21 digs as well to round out SRU's defensive performers.
 
Slippery Rock held an early 5-1 lead in the first set only for IUP to pull even with SRU at 9-9 by answering with an 8-4 run. The remainder of the opening set was an amazing back-and-forth battle in which neither team led by more than two points.
 
There were a combined nine set-point opportunities over the remainder of the set, but neither team could put the other away until Indiana managed to eke out a win by taking three straight points for a 32-30 victory.
 
Friday's first set marked the second game this year in which The Rock and an opponent played into the 30's – SRU also lost a close 34-32 first-set bout at Mercyhurst on Oct. 28.
 
It momentarily appeared that the second set would be without drama as Indiana held a 15-8 lead. Undeterred, The Rock battled all the way back to force a 23-23 tie after rattling off a 15-8 run of its own. Indiana staved off the rally by recording the final two points for a 25-23 win.
 
The third set started out about as poorly for The Rock as one could imagine with Indiana pulling away to seemingly very safe 21-6 lead.
 
However, the near remainder of the set belonged to Slippery Rock as SRU put its enormous potential on full display by taking 16 of the following 19 points to cut IUP's 15-point advantage all the down to just two at 24-22.
 
The dominant run was a total team effort that saw five Rock athletes tally at least one point, including a three-kill showing during the spurt by Chevalier.
 
Ultimately though, Slippery Rock couldn't quite overcome the disastrous slow start as IUP was able to take the final point of the night for a 25-22 match-deciding victory in the third set.
 
IUP finished the contest holding advantages over SRU in total kills (45-36), attack percentage (.197-.154) and aces (8-7). Lauren Valentic recorded eight kills and three blocks to lead the Crimson Hawks.
 
Slippery Rock wraps up the season with a final home match 2 p.m. Saturday against Pitt-Johnstown at Morrow Field House. Prior to the match, SRU's 2023 senior class will be recognized for their contributions to the program over their careers.







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