Video highlights of the weekend available next week.
SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University volleyball team went to the brink yet again on Saturday with its Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) rival Edinboro, playing to five sets for the seventh straight meeting, but the Raiders were ultimately bested by the Fighting Scots at Heiges Field House.
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Shippensburg (13-3, 2-2 PSAC) won the first two sets, 25-23 and 25-21, but Edinboro (11-4, 4-0) rallied to take the final three sets by scores of 25-14, 25-17 and 16-14.
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These two teams simply know how to play outstanding volleyball matches against each other. It was the fourth time in the last seven matches that a five-setter between the two needed extra points to determine a winner. Last season, Edinboro also won the regular-season meeting by a 16-14 score in five sets, but the Raiders were victorious in the PSAC Semifinals.
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Overall, this is the 11th time in the last 13 meetings that Shippensburg and Edinboro have played to five sets, dating back to 2005.
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Sophomore
Morgan DeFloria was the only Raider to reach double-digit kills on Saturday – she had a team-high 15 kills and swung .160. Senior
Annie Goerl had nine kills, two aces and 19 digs, while freshman
Kendall Johnson had nine kills, swing .192 and contributed to two blocks.
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Senior setter
Maura Nolan had 39 assists, 15 digs and three kills. Freshman
Samantha Webber had seven kills and two block assists.
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Five different Raiders posted double-digit digs on the day, led by 24 from senior libero
Maria Peluso. Freshman
Gabriella Johnson had eight kills and 14 digs, while freshman
Megan Forstburg contributed 16 digs.
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The Raiders were ultimately felled by committing 21 attack errors over the final three sets, including nine in the decisive fifth set. In the frantic final frame, Shippensburg had an 8-3 lead before the Fighting Scots rallied with six straight points. SU then scored four-in-a-row, flipping a 9-8 deficit into a 12-9 lead.
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Edinboro answered with three straight points to tie the fifth set at 12-12, and then grabbed a 14-13 lead. SU staved off one match point, but the visitors then scored the final two points, sealing the win with a block. Â
Shippensburg returns to action at 7 p.m. Friday with a road conference matchup at Kutztown.
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Photo by Andy Grosh
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