JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – The Shippensburg University volleyball team rallied Tuesday night, taking the final two sets to come from behind and defeat Pitt-Johnstown in a thrilling non-conference five-setter at Sports Center. Set scores were 25-19, 19-25, 16-25, 25-17, and 15-11.
 
Shippensburg (10-9) was led by seniors Rachel Verhoef and Oyinda Agbale, who combined for 28 kills. Verhoef had 17 kills and two block solos, and a block assist, while Agbale had 11 kills and four block solos. Senior Jackie Sterenberg added nine kills. 
 
Sophomore Kat Negron had a career high of eight aces, the most by a Raider in a match since Mariah Mahlendorf had eight aces against Cheyney on Oct. 1, 2010. Freshman Erica Lampus led the team with 22 digs, while freshman Kearstin Davis had a team-high 44 assists to go along with 13 digs and three aces.  
 
In the first set, both teams were back and forth, until the Raiders pulled away with six straight points. Two aces from Davis secured the first set. In the second set, Pitt-Johnstown (7-12) took an early lead, but the Raiders fought back and went on a 6-1 run to tie the set at 18-18. A timeout taken by the Mountain Cats helped them rally and take the second set.
 
UPJ took the lead early in the third set and never looked back to take a 2-1 lead in the match. In the fourth set, SU took the lead after tying the set at 9-9. Negron delivered four straight service aces to give the Raiders a 21-15 lead. A big kill from senior Jordan Bowen and another from Verhoef set up set point, and an attack error from the Mountain Cats took the match to a fifth set.  
 
Shippensburg won the first three points in the fifth set with back-to-back kills from Agbale and a UPJ attack error. SU never allowed UPJ to take the lead in the fifth set bit it was tied five times. Two big swings from Negron gave the Raiders a 13-10 lead. A service ace by Lampus set up match point, and Agbale secured the victory with a slammed-down kill.
 
Shippensburg will host Bloomsburg Friday at 7 p.m. and Lock Haven on Saturday at 1 p.m. for the Dig Pink weekend. The team will be holding a silent auction and collecting donations, with the proceeds going to a charitable organization in support of breast cancer research.