Johnstown, Pa.-- The Edinboro volleyball team was defeated by Pitt-Johnstown in their final regular season match on Saturday afternoon (16-25, 25-15, 25-27, 25-20, 8-15). With the loss, the Scots fall to (19-9) overall and (9-7) in conference play.
In five sets played, Edinboro recorded one more kill than Pitt-Johnstown. Both teams finished with a (.250) hitting percentage.
In the opening set it was all Pitt-Johnstown as they sustained the most efficient hitting percentage of the entire match at (.407) with 11 kills. Early on Edinboro began the match with a quick 4-2 lead after kills from Bella Burrelli and Natalie Pallone. The Mountain Cats would counter right back with a 5-0 run which included three bad sets from the Scots. Later, a 9-0 run from Pitt-Johnstown put them ahead 19-10. The Mountain Cats closed the set on another 4-1 run to retire the set at 25-16.
In the second set, another strong start from Edinboro put them ahead 7-2. The run was fueled by three kills from Pallone, as well as kills from Sally Sterkel and Kasey Smith. Later, Edinboro rattled off another five-straight points, including three-straight kills from Erica Sharp. Edinboro capped off the second set with three more kills coming from Alicia Eldredge, Pallone and Sharp as the Scots won the set 25-15.
In the third set it was the Mountain Cats who held the early lead, as they produced 18 kills on a (.275) hitting percentage. Midway through the set the Scots went on a 5-1 run to tie things up at 14-14. It was kills from Burrelli, Pallone and Eldredge that helped tie the set. Later, on Pitt-Johnstown's potential set point Sharp came up with a huge solo block to tie the set at 25-25. Eventually the Mountain Cats countered with two-straight points to win the set 27-25.
In the fourth set Edinboro was able to fight off elimination and force a fifth set as they produced a match-high 17 kills on a (.317) clip. After Pitt-Johnstown had gained a strong 16-13 lead, Edinboro began to takeover. The Scots ended the set on an impressive 12-4 run consisting of nine kills. Pallone and Sterkel got hot and stepped up as the two combined for five kills. Pallone retired the set on fourth kill of the set as Edinboro tied the match at two sets a piece.
In the fifth set Pitt-Johnstown came out with the first punch by taking an early 5-1 lead in a set that only lasted to 15 points. Edinboro countered with two kills and a block from Pallone, which only put them behind 6-5. As Edinboro began to close in, Pitt-Johnstown widened the gap with another run as they led 12-6. A Mountain Cat ace was enough to clinch the match in five sets in favor of Pitt-Johnstown 15-8.
-Natalie Pallone led Edinboro with 15 kills on a (.282) clip
-Alicia Eldredge finished with 46 assists and 19 digs
-Bella Burrelli added in 13 kills along with 21 digs
Edinboro will now enter the postseason with the PSAC tournament beginning Wednesday (Nov. 9).
