Slippery Rock, Pa.-- The Edinboro volleyball team was defeated by Slippery Rock in four sets (18-25, 25-17, 23-25, 20-25) on Tuesday night in Morrow Fieldhouse. With the loss, Edinboro falls to (15-6) overall and (5-4) in conference play.
In the first set Slippery Rock would produce more kills and obtain a better hitting percentage than Edinboro. The two teams would swap leads early on without anyone sustaining momentum. Back-to-back kills from Jessie Michel and Erica Sharp tied the set at 11-11. The Rock began to build a lead midway through the set after seven-consecutive points and two timeouts from Edinboro. The Scots battled back with a kill and a solo block from Bella Burrelli, as Edinboro trailed 16-19. Eventually Slippery Rock would pull away after an attack error from Edinboro retired the set at 25-18.
The second set was all Edinboro, the Scots held the Rock to a (-.033) hitting percentage and only six kills. Early in the set a kill from Alicia Eldredge and a solo block from Burrelli put the Scots up 13-6 and forced a Slippery Rock timeout. Out of the timeout, Edinboro's run would continue as a kill from Natalie Pallone extended their lead to 19-7. The Rock made a five-point run late in the set, but it wasn't enough. Kills from Sharp and Burrelli led to Edinboro retiring the set at 25-17.
In the third set Edinboro jumped out to another strong lead but was unable to sustain it. The Scot's biggest run of the set came off Abigail Soboleski's service that led to four-straight points from Edinboro. Back-to-back kills from Pallone extended Edinboro's lead to 20-9. Slippery Rock would then counter with eight-straight points to get within three points of Edinboro's lead. Shortly after, four-straight kills from the Rock allowed them to grab a 23-21 lead. Edinboro responded with two points of their own that included a kill from Sharp, which tied the set at 23-23. Ultimately, the Rock prevailed and retired the set at 25-23.
In the fourth set Slippery Rock had their best statistical set as they produced 17 kills with a (.410) hitting percentage. A kill from the Rock gave them a 6-3 lead and forced an early Edinboro timeout. Later, back-to-back kills from Slippery Rock would force another Edinboro timeout as the Rock led 11-7. The Scots didn't give in, they would counter with three straight kills from Pallone and one kill from Sally Sterkel which tied the set at 14-14. Slippery Rock answered back with another run of their own and jumped out to a 23-18 lead. Slippery Rock retired the set off an Edinboro service error and won the match 25-20.
Edinboro will be back in action on Saturday afternoon when they host IUP.
