CLARION, Pa. – It would take extra points in the fifth set to decide the Edinboro volleyball match at Clarion on Saturday afternoon. The Bald Eagles escaped 26-24, 21-25, 25-17, 23-25, 23-21 win over the Fighting Scots inside Tippin Gymnasium.
Edinboro jumped out to a 7-1 lead in the first set, before Clarion was able to climb back at 13-13. Both teams would take three-point runs a little more than halfway through the set before Edinboro would have a set point at 24-23. A Bald Eagle block would give Clarion the set 26-24.
Trailing 17-15 halfway through the second set, the Fighting Scot defense toughened up and only allowed four more points while the Edinboro offense was led by senior Challen Litwiler with two kills during a six-point run. An attack error earned the Fighting Scots the 25-21 set two win to even the match again.
Down 2-1 in sets, Edinboro used their balanced attack and staunch defense to once again even the match after taking the fourth set 25-23.
In the final set, Clarion took an early 4-1 lead before the Fighting Scots bounced back and took a 7-6 lead early. Edinboro held a match point at 14-13, but a Bald Eagle kill would force extra points. The match went back and forth until the teams were tied at 21-21. A Clarion kill finished the set at 23-21. A fifth set is the first team to 15, win by two.
Freshman Cierah Jackson's 24 kills led the Fighting Scots on the afternoon. This matched her season high, that she recorded twice this season. Litwiler had 17 kills to go along with her 17 digs for her 14th double-double on the season. Sydney Trathen tied her season-high assists (54). On the defensive side of the night, Edinboro had doubled the blocks of Clarion (16-8). Freshman Paige Morris recorded one block solo and 10 block assists. Trathen nearly missed out on a double-double with seven block assists.
Edinboro returns home on Friday, October 20 for a Dig for a Cure match against Gannon. Start time is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. inside McComb Fieldhouse.
