SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University volleyball team rallied from a 2-0 deficit on Friday night to defeat Gannon, the reigning conference champions, in a highly entertaining Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) opener and 2017 home opener. All five sets in the instant classic were decided by three points or less, as the Raiders ultimately claimed the final frame by an 18-16 score.
 
Shippensburg (8-5, 1-0 PSAC) dropped the first two sets to Gannon (10-3, 0-1) by 23-25 and 22-25 scores before knotting the match with a 25-22 and a 25-23 victory in the next two sets. The seesaw affair was an incredible matchup of two highly competitive teams that featured 15 lead changes and 33 tie scores over the five sets of action.
 
The statistics mirror just how close it was between the two teams. The teams finished within one kill (59-58 Gannon), five digs (115-110 Gannon), and one error (33-32 Gannon) of each other, and each squad finished with 55 assists. SU hit .121 as a team, while Gannon swung .115.
 
The two teams were ferocious at the net, combining for 27 blocks. Shippensburg's 16 blocks are its most in a match since Oct. 18, 2014 at UPJ.
 
Freshman Emily Hangen was tremendous from her setter spot in her home debut. Hangen finished with 46 assists, 16 digs, three timely kills and also three block assists.
 
Sophomore Samantha Webber was a steady offensive force from the middle, leading the Raiders on the night with 17 kills and a .178 hitting efficiency. She also had six block assists.
 
Junior Morgan DeFloria had 15 kills, swung .148, totaled a career-high 30 digs, and contributed three block assists in one of most well-rounded performances to date.

Sophomore Kendall Johnson had seven kills and had a hand in eight blocks. Classmate Gabriella Johnson had eight kills, 15 digs and three block assists. Her eighth and final kill put SU ahead 17-16 in the fifth set.
 
Fellow sophomore Megan Forstburg had 27 digs and handed out five assists. She also served an ace on the final point of the match to clinch the Raider victory.
 
Junior Courtney Malott was a factor off the bench, slamming seven kills, contributing to five blocks, and hitting an efficient .174.
 
Freshman Meagan McDonald was another of the key contributors off the bench, as the Raiders made multiple service runs during her time on the floor. The most notable run was an 8-0 stretch early in the third set on McDonald's serve.

Friday's victory snapped a four-match losing streak to Gannon that dated back to 2013. The losing streak included a 2015 defeat to the Golden Knights in the NCAA playoffs.
 
Shippensburg is right back in action at 1 p.m. Saturday when it hosts Mercyhurst from Heiges Field House.