Slippery Rock University Athletics

GREENSBURG, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University volleyball team lost a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division road match Friday at Seton Hill University in three sets (25-19, 25-15, 25-18).
 
Friday's decision moves The Rock's record to 5-12 overall and 0-6 inside the PSAC West, while the host Griffins improve to 10-6 overall and 3-3 in league bouts.
 
In addition to compiling three kills, Hayden Deming ended the night with a career-high matching five blocks. Ava Haynes (3), Victoria Nalbach (3) and Alayna Esselink (2) totaled multiple blocks as well.
 
The Rock's attack saw Haynes register seven kills, with Gwen McCarthy adding six of her own. Paityn Krause assisted on 12 of The Rock's 22 kills. Ellie Friedrichs rounded out SRU's leaders with team-highs in digs (9) and aces (1).
 
Seton Hill held team advantages over The Rock in kills (48-22), attack percentage (.250 / .035), aces (4-1), total blocks (8-7) and digs (37-30).
 
Slippery Rock held a small lead through the opening stages of the first set, but with the score knotted at 13-13 Seton Hill captured seven of the next nine points to grow a five-point, 20-15, lead that it turned into a 25-19 victory in the opener. Haynes paced SRU in the first set with four kills and one block.
 
SRU again came out strong in the second set, building a 6-3 lead and forcing a Griffins timeout. The Rock then took four of the next six points out of the break to push its lead to 10-5.
 
However, the remainder of the set belonged to the Griffins as Seton Hill recorded 14 straight points to erase Slippery Rock's lead and open a 19-10 advantage of its own on the way to the eventual 25-15 win.
 
The third set saw Seton Hill play its way to a 13-8 lead to begin what turned out to be the final set of the night. While SRU kept close with the Griffins for the duration of the final set, it could never quite mount a complete comeback bid in the 25-18 setback.
 
Maddie Stout led Seton Hill to the win with 14 kills, a .478 attack percentage, six digs and four blocks.
 
Slippery Rock continues its brief road swing 6 p.m. Saturday at California (Pa.).






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