SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – In a battle of the Top 2 teams in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Central Division held Friday night, the Shippensburg University volleyball team claimed an impressive straight-set win over longtime rival Pitt-Johnstown by scores of 25-13, 29-27 and 27-25 in an entertaining showdown from Heiges Field House.

Shippensburg (20-3, 8-2 PSAC) moved into a tie atop the PSAC Central with Pitt-Johnstown (15-7, 8-2), setting the stage for an exciting re-match at UPJ for the final contest of the regular season on November 12. SU snapped a two-match skid in the rivalry, as the Raiders were swept in both of their matches last season with the Lady Cats.
 
Freshman Kendall Johnson put forth a standout performance from the middle on Friday night, slamming a career-high 14 kills on 20 attempts, swinging .600, to complement five blocks. Johnson only had two errors all night (two blocked attempts in the third set), extending a streak of hitting .333 or better to six straight matches. She has also provided nine or more kills in four of the last five matches.
 
Shippensburg had 11 blocks – its third-highest total of the season. Freshman Samantha Webber had a team-high six blocks (including two solo) to complement five kills, while freshman Gabriella Johnson added four block assists, nine digs and three kills.
 
Senior Annie Goerl had eight kills, swinging .152, to go along with 11 digs and two block assists. Senior setter Maura Nolan had team highs of 29 assists and 13 digs.
 
SU hit .316 in an impressive first set, ripping 14 kills on just two errors, and staking itself out to leads of 16-7 and 19-9. The Raiders also took advantage of an uncharacteristic frame from the Lady Cats, who committed eight of their 20 attack errors in the set.
 
The second set featured 16 ties and seven lead changes – the Raiders led 23-21 and then 24-23 before UPJ countered with a pair of points. Goerl and Kendall Johnson teamed for a block to stave off the set point at 25-25, and then Gabriella Johnson and Webber teamed up for a block that made it 26-25. UPJ then staved off what proved to be two straight set points before a kill from Webber and a block from Webber and Nolan gave the Raiders the second frame.
 
Shippensburg ultimately won in straight sets thanks to a tremendous rally. Trailing 23-17 and then 24-20, SU got a kill from Kendall Johnson and then won three points on the serve of freshman Megan Forstburg to tie it at 24-24. After a Marissa Erminio kill ended the run, SU staved off a set point with another kill from Kendall Johnson. A kill by Goerl, and then a block by Gabriella Johnson and Webber capped off the victory.
 
The serve proved to be important on the night as well, with the Raiders delivering seven aces (three by Forstburg) while UPJ committed 13 service errors (eight alone in the second set). Overall, SU hit .188 while UPJ hit .149.
 
Shippensburg remains home Saturday for a 1 p.m. PSAC Central match with Lock Haven and a 3:30 non-conference clash with Ohio Valley.