Heading into the final road matchup of the season, the Slippery Rock University volleyball team traveled to Edinboro for a Tuesday night PSAC showdown. The two teams played earlier this season, with The Rock emerging victorious by sweeping the Fighting Scots at Morrow Field House. As the two teams played their rematch and the dust finally settled, the match ended with the same result— a Slippery Rock victory.
The victory improves The Rock’s overall record to 10-15 and 7-9 in PSAC play. In the opening set of the night, both teams seemed to be evenly matched, finding themselves tied 5-5 early. Not long after, SRU caught fire and rattled off a 13-3 run to take an 18-8 lead over Edinboro. The 10-point deficit proved to be too much for the Fighting Scots to overcome, as Slippery Rock would take the first set by a score of 25-16, with junior Zoe Rivet registering three aces in the set.
It appeared Slippery Rock had the momentum in the second set as well, rolling out to a 4-1 lead, which would gradually turn into a comfortable 22-17 lead late in the set. Edinboro would go on to fight their way back into the set, churning out an 8-1 run on the way to a 25-23 comeback victory in the second set.
Edinboro would take advantage of SRU in the third set, who was unable to shake off a tough loss in the second set by finishing strong once again. Both teams were tied at 13 midway through the set, when EU would go on a 12-3 run against the Green and White, effectively ending the third set by a score of 25-16.
Now facing adversity once again, the women in the Green and White rallied around each other to avoid loss and force a fifth set against Edinboro. Early in the set, Edinboro seemed to be destined for victory as they started off strong with a 9-4 advantage over SRU. In a twist of fate, The Rock went on a 9-4 run of their own, tying the match at 13 and from there on out, it was all Slippery Rock. SRU would go on another big run, eventually winning the set with a score of 25-16, to force a fifth set.
The Rock dominated the fifth set, with an impressive 8-0 run which all but killed Edinboro’s hopes of victory, as Slippery Rock would pull out to a commanding 11-5 lead that would never be surrendered. The Green and White went on to secure a 15-10 fifth set victory, snapping their three-game losing streak.
Tuesday’s win over Edinboro gave Slippery Rock their first season-sweep over the Fighting Scots since the 2006 season. Senior Shayla Ray registered two blocks during the match, which moved her into eighth place in program history for blocks in a career with 265.
Zoe Rivet’s ability to serve has been a nightmare to opposing teams lately, as she has recorded four aces in three of SRU’s last six games. Junior Kayla Fucci has caught on fire and has posted her two of her three best career kill totals in Slippery Rock’s last four matches as she totaled 15 against West Liberty on Oct. 23 as well as Tuesday’s 16 kill outburst. Her career-high of 17 kills came earlier this season against Kutztown.
The Green and White will return home this week, going up against No. 20 Gannon University on Friday, Nov. 2 at 7:00 p.m. before playing their final regular season match at home, as SRU hosts Mercyhurst University for their Senior Day on Saturday at 1 p.m.
