HUNTINGDON, PA – Juniata women's volleyball hosted Clarion University of Division II on Tuesday night at Memorial Gymnasium. Both teams played close sets but it was the Golden Eagles who came out on top, 3-0 (25-23, 25-23, 25-17).
Mar-Jana Phillips (Carson, CA/Rolling Hills Prep) had 10 kills to lead the Eagles. Nakita Gearhart (Waynesboro, PA/Greencastle-Antrim) added nine kills. Amelia Kepler (Kane, PA/Kane Area) contributed eight kills.
Brittani Young (Columbia, PA/Hempfield Area) led the defense with 21 digs. Lydia Mueller (Carlisle, PA/Carlisle) chipped in 10 digs. Chelsea Scafuro (Geneva, OH/Geneva) tallied eight digs.
Juniata led 14-9 in the first set. A 14-5 Golden Eagle run, however, gave Clarion a 23-19 advantage. JC narrowed the lead to 24-23 on a kill from Phillips. Clarion got the match point on a kill from Gabrielle Olson.
The Eagles led the second set 8-4 but again Clarion rallied to tie the game up 8-8. JC came back to regain its lead and never led by more than three points. The Juniata lead was 22-19 and then 23-21 but the Golden Eagles rattled off five straight points to take the set.
The third game belonged to Clarion as it led from start to finish. JC rallied in the late stages as it tallied four straight points to trail 23-19. The Golden Eagles would put the Eagles away with the final two points it needed to win the set and the match.
Juniata hosts the Wid Guisler Inviational this weekend. The Eagles play #17 Eastern on Friday night at 7 pm followed by Carnegie Mellon at 1 p.m. and Stevenson at 5 p.m. on Saturday.
