Edinboro, Pa. - With its eighth straight win, the Edinboro University volleyball team recorded a 3-2 victory (22-25, 25-17, 15-25, 25-19, 15-12) over Gannon University on Tuesday night at the Hammermill Center in Erie, PA. With the win the Fighting Scots improved to (12-1) overall and (5-0) in PSAC West competition. The Golden Knights fall to (15-3) overall and (4-1) in the PSAC West.
Junior Bella Burrelli was impressive on the offensive attack, the PSAC West Volleyball Athlete of the Week had 12 kills, Freshman Abby Monn also had 12 kills as the two led the attack
Senior Sally Sterkel and Freshman Michaella Cloonan also contributed to Edinboro's attack, Sterkel recorded an efficient 11 kills with a .346 hitting percentage and Cloonan posted 10 kills of her own on just 22 attempts
Senior Alicia Eldredge was spectacular in setting up her teammates, she recorded 50 of Edinboro's 51 assists
Sophomore Emelia Rowell led Edinboro in the service department, Rowell contributed four aces to the offense
Edinboro applied the same effort to the defense and found success in slowing down the Gannon attack
Freshman Carly Pry has came alive for Edinboro as of late, she led the team with 39 digs which is a new season high for her
Monn and Burrelli also contributed to the digs department, Monn contributed 20 and Burrelli added 19 of her own
The Fighting Scots had great success protecting the net up front, Edinboro combined for 18 block assists and five total solo blocks
Cloonan led the way with six block assists and one solo block, Burrelli contributed four block assists and one solo block
In the first set Gannon and Edinboro would trade runs, eventually Gannon would win the first set 22-25. About halfway through the first set Gannon rattled off eight straight points with the service of Ashley Beyers and Gannon was suddenly up 10-16. Edinboro answered that run with one of their own. With two service aces from Pry, and two kills by Monn, Edinboro regained the lead 17-16. Gannon ultimately outscored Edinboro, the Golden Knights recorded more kills and blocks in the opening set.
In the second set Edinboro regained focused and won the second set 25-17. The Fighting Scots started out the set with a 3-0 lead. Midway through the set, Edinboro rattled off six straight point from Burrelli's service and put the Scots up 14-7. The remainder of the set Edinboro continued to build off the early lead. The key difference in the second set was Edinboro controlling the blocks department. The Fighting Scots recorded 5 blocks compared to Gannon's zero and held the Golden Knights to .033 hitting percentage.
The third set was all about Gannon gaining momentum, Edinboro would lose the set 15-25. Gannon started the set out on a good note, until Edinboro responded with a six-point run that was serviced by Freshman Abigale Soboleski. Throughout the run Burrelli, Moon, and Cloonan all recorded kills. Edinboro's run was not enough to slow down Gannon. The Golden Knights held Edinboro to a hitting percentage of .071 in the third set. Gannon ended the set by rattling off five straight points and won the set 15-25.
The fourth set was very similar to the second set, Edinboro would win the fourth set 25-19. The first half of the set the two teams continued to trade points and the score remained close. With a two-point lead Edinboro went on a small four point run that was filled with Gannon errors, the Scots went up 20-14. This was the momentum needed to close out the remainder of the set. Edinboro held Gannon to a .027 hitting percentage in the set and recorded four blocks to the Golden Knight's zero. Edinboro won the last two points of the set off Gannon errors and won 25-19 to force a fifth set.
For the second straight game Edinboro found themselves going into a fifth and final set. The set remained close and accounted for five ties throughout. The changing point of the set came when Edinboro scored three straight points off Soboleski's service. Edinboro from that point would refuse to give up the lead. In the final set Edinboro posted 11 kills and had a hitting percentage of .267. Later in the set Rowell had a clutch service ace that put the Scots up 13-10. Edinboro claimed the final two points of the match and was victorious 15-12.
Edinboro will be back in action on Thursday, Oct. 7 when they travel on the road to match up against Daemen College at 6 p.m.
