Erie, Pa.-- The Edinboro volleyball team was defeated by Gannon University (18-25, 17-25, 25-23, 25-18, 7-15) on Wednesday night during the quarterfinals round of the PSAC tournament. With the loss, Edinboro falls to (19-10) overall. The Fighting Scots now await a potential bid for the NCAA Atlantic Regional.
In the opening set Edinboro came out swinging and gained an early lead. Two consecutive points for the Scots including a kill from Bella Burrelli put Edinboro ahead 10-7. Then Gannon countered with a 6-0 run, which gave them a 15-12 lead and forced an Edinboro timeout. Later, a kill from Erica Sharp put the Scots within two points before Gannon ran away with the set. The Golden Knights would finish the first set on a 6-1 run and won 25-18.
In the second set both PSAC West schools continued to swap lead changes. Early on, a kill from Natalie Pallone tied things up at 4-4. Then Gannon strung together another 6-0 run which gave them a strong 13-7 lead and was enough to force an Edinboro timeout. Later, another 5-0 run from the Golden Knights blew the set open at 18-9 after a Fighting Scots attack error. Edinboro then countered with three-consecutive points of their own, including another kill from Sharp. But eventually Gannon retired the second set off a kill from Sam Deinek as the Golden Knights won 25-17.
In the third set it was Gannon who acquired the early lead, as they earned six-straight points before the Scots could get on the board. The early 6-0 lead from Gannon forced an early timeout from Edinboro. The Scots got things going after back-to-back points from Jessie Michel, including a kill and a solo block. Later, A block split Kasey Smith and Sharp, followed up by another kill from Michel would put the Scots within three points.
Edinboro continued to build momentum with a 5-1 run which forced a Gannon timeout and tied the set at 12-12. The 5-1 run was fueled by kills from Sharp, Burrelli and Michel; as well as back-to-back aces from Sharp. The Scots continued to pour on the points with three-straight kills, with two from Pallone and one from Burrelli. The run gave Edinboro a 15-13 lead. The Scots then added another string of four-straight points as Edinboro led 21-18 and forced a Gannon timeout. Edinboro was able to prevail and earn their first set win after a Gannon service error. The Scots won the set 25-23.
The Fighting Scots jumped out to another great start in the fourth set. A block split between Sharp and Pallone forced an early Gannon timeout, as Edinboro led 8-3. Shortly after the Scots continued with success after kills from Burrelli and Sharp extended their lead to seven points. Later, Edinboro continued to pour on the points with a 6-2 run including service aces from Alicia Eldredge and Carly Pry, as the Scots led 20-11. Gannon wasn't finished, the Golden Knights countered with a 5-0 run and forced an Edinboro timeout. Edinboro eventually closed out the fourth set with off a Gannon attack error. The Scots tied the match at two sets a piece with a 25-18 set win.
In the fifth and final set it was Gannon who struck first with a strong 6-1 lead which forced an Edinboro timeout. The Fighting Scots countered with a string of three consecutive points to get within two points of Gannon at 6-4, including a huge block split between Sharp and Burrelli. Later, Gannon took over and concluded the fifth set with a 9-3 run, which was enough to for Gannon to prevail in five sets.
