SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University volleyball team rallied from a 2-1 deficit Friday night and also staved off two match points to record a riveting five-set victory over Clarion, defeating the Golden Eagles by scores of 25-22, 20-25, 21-25, 25-19 and 18-16 from Heiges Field House.
 
Shippensburg (19-6, 11-1 PSAC) is now 2-0 in five-set conference matches this season, having also rallied to defeat Gannon back on September 22. Friday night's matchup of two of the PSAC's Top 6 teams featured 37 ties and 16 lead changes, including eight ties in the decisive fifth set.
 
Clarion (17-8, 8-4) rallied from a 14-12 deficit in the final frame, fending off two match points of its own to take leads of 15-14 and 16-15. A Golden Eagle attack error and a bad set then put SU in position to close the match again, and a kill by sophomore Samantha Webber clinched the victory in extras.
 
Webber paced the Raiders with 18 kills and a .302 hitting percentage while contributing to four of SU's seven blocks on the night. Sophomore Kendall Johnson had 13 kills and hit .370, while junior Morgan DeFloria recorded her 11th double-double of the season with 12 kills and 22 digs.
 
Freshman Emily Hangen had 53 assists, two off her career high, while adding nine digs, three block assists and two pivotal kills. Sophomore Gabriella Johnson provided seven kills – including five over the final three sets – served a season-high four aces for the fourth time this year, and had 18 digs.
 
Sophomore Megan Forstburg was busy all night from her libero spot, leading all players with 32 digs. Freshman Maegan McDonald came off the bench during the final two sets and delivered two key service runs that included three aces.
 
Clarion got an electric performance from Taylor Braunagel, whose double-double included 15 digs and a match-high 24 kills. The Golden Eagles out-hit the Raiders for the match, .178 to .151.  
 
Shippensburg hosts IUP at 1 p.m. Saturday from Heiges Field House. The team will be continuing its Dig Pink fund-raiser, and supporters can donate to the Sideout Foundation on behalf of SU Volleyball here: https://giving.side-out.org/campaigns/13763.