Women's Volleyball 10/7/2019 1:49:00 PM Bob Shreve, Sports Information Director

Fighting Scots Begin Busy Week with Showdown at Preseason Favorite Gannon

Freshman Erica Sharp

GAMEDAY CENTRAL – Edinboro at Gannon

Date: Tuesday, October 8, 2019
Site: Hammermill Center, Erie, Pa.
Records: Edinboro 9-6, 3-3 PSAC Northwest l East Stroudsburg 11-3, 2-0 PSAC Northwest
Edinboro Links: Roster I Schedule I Stats
Gannon Links: Roster l Schedule l Stats
Live Stats
Video

AROUND THE PSAC

PSAC Scoreboard: Click Here
PSAC Standings: Click Here
PSAC Statistics: Click Here

MATCH STORYLINES

After a long trip to the eastern part of Pennsylvania for a pair of matches last week, Edinboro wraps up three straight matches on the road with a short trip up I-79 to face local rival Gannon. It marks the first of two meetings against the team picked to win the PSAC Northwest Division. Edinboro split its two matches last week, losing at East Stroudsburg before defeating Kutztown the next day. That leaves the Fighting Scots with a 9-6 overall record and 3-3 in the PSAC Northwest. Gannon played the same two teams and came away with victories to improve to 12-4 overall and 5-0 in league play.
Edinboro faces a busy week. After playing at Gannon on Tuesday, the Fighting Scots host Millersville on Thursday, October 10 and West Chester on Saturday, November 12. The West Chester match is part of Homecoming festivities. Millersville and West Chester play in the PSAC Southeast Division.
The Fighting Scots finished with a 14-14 record a year ago and were picked to finish third in the PSAC's Northwest Division. Gannon was voted the preseason favorite in the division in the PSAC Coaches' Preseason Poll. The Northwest Division features five teams this year with the addition of Clarion, who moved from the Southwest Division with Shepherd joining the PSAC.
Head coach Missy Soboleski's is in her 15th year as Edinboro's head coach and holds the career record for victories with 324. All told, she has compiled a 459-358 record while serving as a head coach for 24 years. She previously served as head coach at Mercyhurst and Gannon before taking over at Edinboro in 2005. She has led Edinboro to eight NCAA Division II playoff berths. Soboleski entered the season ranked 22nd in Division II among active coaches in victories, and is third among PSAC coaches.
Junior Cierah Jackson was named to the All-Tournament Team at the Javelina Volleyball Invitational. The 5'8" outside hitter has led Edinboro in kills in 12 of the 15 matches, and has been in double figures in 14 of 15. She has earned second team All-PSAC honors while leading the Fighting Scots in kills each of her first two seasons. She leads Edinboro with 194 kills and has boosted her career total to 937 career kills. Jackson was named the PSAC Northwest Division Athlete of the Week for her efforts in the Rebich Investments Invitational.
Alicia Eldredge enjoyed an outstanding season as a freshman starting at setter. She finished with a team-leading 916 assists, which ranks 13^th in a season Edinboro. She ranked tenth in the PSAC in assists per set (8.88) and service aces per set (0.38). She had 40-or-more assists in eight matches. Eldredge has 501 assists this season, along with 24 service aces. Molly Breier has a team-high 183 digs, bringing her career total to 670. While not possessing huge numbers, Paige Morris has played well, contributing 59 kills and 29 blocks, as has Jessica Giannoccaro, who has 104 digs.
Soboleski is not afraid to turn to her freshmen, and two in particular have been playing a major role in Edinboro's success in 2019. Bella Burrelli, a 6'0" outside hitter/opposite, ranks second in both kills (155) and digs (141). Erica Sharp, a 6'2", middle hitter/outside hitter, has added 101 kills and a team-high 42 blocks.
Gannon, under head coach Matt Darling, finished 31-3 a year ago, earning the program's 10th straight NCAA berth.
The Lady Knights returned all but one player from that 2018 squad that reached the conference title match and Atlantic Region semifinals. Ally Smith leads Gannon with 147 kills.
Edinboro dropped both matches to Gannon a year ago, losing in four sets at Gannon and in three at McComb Fieldhouse.

UP NEXT

The Fighting Scots play two straight games at home, beginning with a match against Millersville on Thursday, October 10. West Chester visits McComb Fieldhouse on Saturday, October 12 as part of Homecoming.

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Players Mentioned

#12 Alicia Eldredge: S; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#2 Jessica Giannoccaro: DS/L; 5' 4"; Junior

#19 Cierah Jackson: OH; 5' 8"; Junior

#6 Molly Breier: DS/L; 5' 7"; Junior

#5 Paige Morris: MH; 5' 9"; Junior

#11 Bella Burrelli: OH/Opp; 6' 0"; Freshman

#15 Erica Sharp: MH/OH; 6' 2"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#12 Alicia Eldredge
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: S

#2 Jessica Giannoccaro
: 5' 4"; Junior
: DS/L

#19 Cierah Jackson
: 5' 8"; Junior
: OH

#6 Molly Breier
: 5' 7"; Junior
: DS/L

#5 Paige Morris
: 5' 9"; Junior
: MH

#11 Bella Burrelli
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: OH/Opp

#15 Erica Sharp
: 6' 2"; Freshman
: MH/OH