Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

The Shippensburg University volleyball team came away with two impressive victories in PSAC crossover competition Friday in Johnstown, defeating Mercyhurst in a heart-tugging five-set marathon before outlasting defending conference champion Gannon in four sets at UPJ's Sports Center.

Shippensburg (16-6, 8-3 PSAC) extended its winning streak to eight matches but not without much suspense along the way. The Raiders won the first two sets against the Lakers before Mercyhurst rallied to take sets three and four and also establish a 10-4 lead in the fifth set. SU got a side out and responded with a 7-0 run to take the lead, scoring 11 of the final 14 points in total to earn the victory.

After a 50-minute break, the Raiders had to come right back onto the court and face a more-rested Gannon squad in a rematch of last year's PSAC Semifinals. SU dropped the opening set to the Golden Knights but staved off fatigue long enough to take the final three sets and record just its second victory over Gannon in 14 all-time meetings.

The two matches combined to have 43 tie scores and 26 lead changes. Seven of the Raiders' nine total sets on Friday were decided by four points or less.

"Today was all about having sheer determination and fight," head coach Leanne Piscotty said after the victories. "It was so exciting to see them dig deep and fight like they did. They battled all day long."

SU had key contributions from several individuals in its rotation. Among those guiding the way was senior captain Jill Edwards, who finished the matches with a combined total of 37 kills and 42 digs. Edwards was especially effective against Gannon, leading all players with 21 kills on just five errors for a .276 hitting percentage.

The Raiders also featured some adjustments to their lineup, with sophomore Laura Plank assuming the libero position in favor of freshman Maria Peluso. Plank finished with 38 digs on the day.

Peluso, an Erie native, moved back to her natural spot on the outside and had a memorable hitting performance against one of her hometown teams. In the opener against the Lakers, Peluso led all players with a career-high 18 kills on just four errors, swinging .412, and added 10 digs for her second career double-double. She finished the day with 26 kills, 32 digs, four block assists and three aces.

Sophomore Taylor Gottshall also had an effort to remember against the Lakers, posting a .636 hitting percentage as a result of a career-high 15 kills and just one error on 22 swings. She also had seven block assists – with her 19.5 total match points also resulting in a career best.

The distribution by freshman Maura Nolan was also integral to the Raiders' undefeated day. Nolan had 50 assists against the Lakers, two short of her career high, and finished the day with 91 assists between the two matches. She also snuck in four kills, racked up 16 digs and combined for five blocks.

"The will to win ended up being greater on our side today than theirs," Piscotty said of her team's effort. "We had the confidence that we could win, and we did so through our determination."

Shippensburg remains in Johnstown overnight to face Edinboro and Slippery Rock on Saturday.

Shippensburg 3, Mercyhurst 2 (25-18, 25-19, 22-25, 23-25, 15-13)

The Raiders started their day with 25-18 and 25-19 set victories over the Lakers. SU had a single one-point deficit in the first set and never trailed by more than two points in the second set.

The Lakers rebounded with six service aces in sets three and four and added two more during its 10-4 run to open the fifth set. After the service error, SU made a long service run behind freshman Abby Mummert – with Nolan setting up three kills and the Raider defense influencing three MU attack errors.

Peluso ultimately clinched the victory with a kill. Jill Edwards led all players with 25 digs.

Shippensburg 3, Gannon 1 (21-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-22)

The opening set against Gannon featured long runs for both teams. SU built a 12-6 lead before Gannon reeled off six straight points to tie the score. It was part of a 12-3 run for the Golden Knights that gave them an 18-15 lead. The Raiders then responded with six of the next seven points to lead 21-19, but Gannon closed the first frame with six straight points to establish a lead.

In the second set, SU trailed 23-18 before rattling off seven consecutive points to tie the match at 1-1. A solo block by Gottshall clinched the second set in the Raiders' favor. A 20-17 deficit in the third set proved surmountable for Shippensburg as another seven-point run put the Raiders up 24-20. A service error eventually clinched the third frame.

The fourth and final set featured a mini 4-0 run for Gannon that made the score 23-22, but a Jill Edwards kill and a Gannon attack error sealed the victory for Shippensburg.

Sophomore Faith Athey contributed six kills and two blocks against the Golden Knights while freshman Gabbie Holt added five kills and 12 digs.

"We had to dig deep and overcome signs of fatigue against Gannon," Piscotty admitted afterward. "But we got some amazing plays and aces in clutch moments to help steal the momentum back our way. We kept playing steady and remained an aggressive, confident team."