The Shippensburg University volleyball team could not hold off Clarion on Thursday night in its season opener, dropping a 3-1 decision to the Golden Eagles at the Tony Banner Memorial Volleyball Tournament held inside Tippin Gym. Set scores were 24-26, 23-25, 25-21, 22-25.
 
Shippensburg (0-1), whose starting lineup included five freshmen and just two players with returning experience, hit .149. Clarion (1-0) served eight aces and slammed 51 kills to complement a .123 hitting percentage.
 
Each set was back and forth and finished within four points. The Raiders came back from a three-point deficit and a set point in the first set, but ultimately could not take the frame.
 
SU got back in the match by taking the third set, 25-21, capped off by two kills from Kat Negron. In the fourth set, the Raiders got within three points of the Golden Eagles but could not get any closer.
 
Three Raiders finished with double-digit kills. Junior Rachel Verhoef had a career-high 14 kills, while Negron debuted with 12 kills and eight digs. Another player making their debut, Emily Gardner, posted a double-double with 10 kills, 16 digs. She also had two blocks. 
 
Junior Oyinda Agbale had her best match as a Raider, posting career highs of seven kills and a match-high six blocks. Freshman Chelsea Foulis added four kills and five blocks. SU totaled an impressive 10.5 blocks as a team.
 
Freshman setter Lily Letchworth posted 40 assists and 11 digs in her debut.
 
Shippensburg will be back on the court tomorrow when its faces Adelphi at noon in the Tony Banner Memorial Volleyball Tournament.