SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University volleyball team got a career-high 19 kills from sophomore Annie Goerl on Friday night and excellent play from its middle blockers as it clinched a berth in the PSAC Tournament with its five-set victory over Pittsburgh-Johnstown. Set scores were 25-22, 25-17, 24-26, 20-25 and 15-9.
 
Shippensburg (17-15, 9-12 PSAC) has now won all five meetings over defending conference champion Pitt-Johnstown (18-12, 12-9) over the last two seasons, as Friday's victory snapped a seven-match winning streak for the Lady Cats.
 
The Raiders shot .210 as a team and blocked 12 shots, bringing SU's season total against UPJ to 30 blocks in two meetings.
 
In the first two sets, SU continued to build on its outstanding play from Tuesday night versus Point Park. The Raiders did not allow an ace or have a shot blocked in the first two sets, swinging .263 in the opening frame and .171 in the second.
 
Despite dropping the fourth set, SU hit .306 as a team before turning it on the in fifth and final frame and hitting .381 – smacking nine kills to just one error. The Raiders raced out to a 7-2 lead in the fifth set and never looked back.
 
Junior middle blockers Faith Athey and Taylor Gottshall were the difference in the match for the Raiders. Athey had 13 kills to just two errors, swinging .423, and blocked seven shots (two solo).
 
Gottshall had an incredible night, ripping 14 kills to just four errors (swinging .270), and provided a career-high 21 digs plus five blocks.
 
Goerl's 19 kills and 10 digs marked her 11th double-double of the year. She swung .207. Freshman Courtney Malott had 10 kills and 14 digs for her fourth double-double of the season.
 
Sophomore setter Maura Nolan, once again, was all over the court. In addition to 47 assists, Nolan had 16 digs, four block assists and two aces.
 
Junior Laura Plank led the team with 27 digs. She also assisted four kills. Senior Casey Hawbaker had 15 digs and two aces, while sophomore Rebecca Pryor had five kills, four block assists and hit .118.
                                            
Saturday's regular-season finale against Lock Haven is set for 1 p.m. from Heiges Field House. Afterward, the Raiders will take on Winston-Salem State at 3:30 p.m. Hawbaker, SU's lone senior, will be recognized before the match against WSSU.

Playoff scenarios, by our estimation:

If SHIP defeats HAVEN and UPJ defeats VILLE, then:
No. 1 UPJ hosts No. 4 WCU and No. 2 Haven hosts No. 3 Ship
 

If SHIP defeats HAVEN and VILLE defeats UPJ, then:
No. 1 Haven hosts No. 4 WCU and No. 2 UPJ hosts No. 3 Ship
 
If SHIP loses to HAVEN, UPJ defeats VILLE, and WCU defeats ESU, then:
No. 1 Haven hosts No. 4 Ship and No. 2 UPJ hosts No. 3 WCU
 
If SHIP loses to HAVEN, VILLE defeats UPJ, and WCU defeats ESU, then:
No. 1 Haven hosts No. 4 Ship and No. 2 UPJ hosts No. 3 WCU
 
If SHIP loses to HAVEN, UPJ defeats VILLE, and ESU defeats WCU, then:
No. 1 Haven hosts No. 4 WCU and No. 2 UPJ hosts No. 3 Ship
 
If SHIP loses to HAVEN, VILLE defeats UPJ, and ESU defeats WCU, then:
No. 1 Haven hosts No. 4 WCU and No. 2 UPJ hosts No. 3 Ship