Win and In the Motto as Fighting Scots Play Weekend Set at UPJ, IUP

GAMEDAY CENTRAL – Edinboro at Pitt-Johnstown/IUP

Date: Friday, November 8, 2019 – 6:00 p.m./Saturday, November 9, 2019 – 1:00 p.m.
Site: UPJ Sports Center, Johnstown, Pa. l Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex, Indiana, Pa.
Records: Edinboro 14-11, 8-6 PSAC Northwest l Pitt-Johnstown 12-11, 4-9 PSAC Southwest l Indiana(Pa.) 6-16, 5-8 PSAC Southwest
Edinboro Links:  Roster I Schedule I Stats
UPJ Links:  Roster l Schedule l Stats
IUP Links:  Roster l Schedule l Stats
Live Video:   UPJ l IUP

AROUND THE PSAC

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

MATCH STORYLINES

The playoff scenario for Edinboro is quite simple -- win and you're in. The Fighting Scots enter their weekend set at Pitt-Johnstown and Indiana(Pa.) with a 14-11 overall record and, more importantly, an 8-6 ledger in the PSAC Northwest. While Edinboro can not catch Gannon and win the division, the Fighting Scots can still capture one of the four remaining playoff spots, which goes to the four teams with the best records who do not win a division title. Right now, Shepherd (11-3) and Millersville (10-4) hold down the top two spots, with Clarion (8-5) and Edinboro (8-6) next in line. The Fighting Scots hold a two-game lead over Mercyhurst (6-8) and Cal (6-8). Oddly enough, UPJ and IUP can help Edinboro's cause. They each play Mercyhurst a day before playing Edinboro.
Edinboro has won four of its last five matches. The Fighting Scots split a pair of contests last weekend, losing to Seton Hill in three games, but then coming back the next day to defeat Cal in three games.
Cierah Jackson leads Edinboro with 300 kills and has led Edinboro in kills in 17 of the 25 matches. She has moved up to ninth in career kills with 1,043. She has been named the PSAC Northwest Division Athlete of the Week twice this season. The junior outside hitter was named to the All-Tournament Team at the Javelina Volleyball Invitational. She has earned second team All-PSAC honors while leading the Fighting Scots in kills each of her first two seasons.
Middle hitters Erica Sharp and Sally Sterkel have come up big of late. Sharp, a 6'2" freshman, leads the team with 72 total blocks and stands third in kills with 168. Sterkel, a 6'2" sophomore, adds 134 kills and 32 blocks. Throw in junior Paige Morris (93 kills, 57 blocks) and the Scots have an impressive trio of middle hitters.
Bella Burrelli has enjoyed an impressive freshman campaign. A 6'0" outside hitter, she stands second on the team in both kills (262) and digs (226), and is second in service aces (37).
While Jackson reached 1,000 career kills earlier in the year, Molly Breier is now approaching 1,000 career digs. The junior libero has a team-leading 346 digs, bringing her career total to 953. She ranks 15^th in career digs.
Alicia Eldredge has boosted her career total in assists to 1,760, ranking tenth, thanks to a team-high 844 this season. The sophomore setter also has a team-high 41 service aces, along with standing third in digs (171) and total blocks (40).
Pitt-Johnstown comes in with a 12-11 record, but the Mountain Cats are just 4-9 in PSAC action while competing in the Southwest Division. Oddly enough, UPJ has yet to win at home in six matches. They snapped a three-match losing streak with a win over Slippery Rock last Saturday. UPJ plays Mercyhurst on Thursday in another key PSAC match.
IUP is 6-16 overall but still alive for a playoff berth at 5-8 in the PSAC Southwest. Like UPJ, the Crimson Hawks have struggled at home, going 1-6. They host Mercyhurst on Friday.

UP NEXT

The Fighting Scots will play their final regular season home game on Thursday, November 14 hosting Gannon at 6 p.m. The Lady Knights won in four games earlier in the year. Edinboro then wraps up the season on Saturday, November 16 at Slippery Rock.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

#16 Sally Sterkel: MH; 6' 2"; Sophomore

#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

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

#16 Sally Sterkel
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: MH

#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