Seton Hill Wins PSAC Volleyball Championship in Thriller
CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
BOX SCORE
ERIE, Pa. --- Seton Hill won its first Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Volleyball Championship following a five-set thriller (17-25, 25-19, 15-25, 25-21, 15-13) against No. 21 Gannon at Hammermill Center Saturday evening in Erie, Pa.
The Griffins improved to 24-8 while the Golden Knights fell to 30-2.
It marked the third time in the last seven championships that the title match went five sets.
SHU’s Brynn Fleury was named Most Valuable Player. Fleury accumulated a team-high 19 assists while amassing 10 digs and delivering an ace.
Both defenses were sharp while racking up 86 digs each. SHU held GU to a .155 hitting clip. The Knights entered the weekend leading the PSAC in the category.
GU’s defense showed its strength while holding SHU to a .112 clip.
The first set was a see-saw battle while both teams exchanged points and were tied at 17. GU ripped off a 9-1 run to end the set, powered by a pair of kills from Lauren Sampson and Ally Smith.
Sampson, who was named PSAC Freshman of the Year Thursday, was the match leader in kills (17) and aces (4). She chipped in with 15 digs.
In the second set, SHU hustled out to a 13-6 advantage and never looked back.
GU cruised in the third while holding SHU to a match-low -.108 hitting percentage.
SHU won the fourth and fifth in tight fashion.
GU’s Ashley Beyers led all players with 30 assists while teammate Toni Leitshuh accumulated a match-high 26 digs.
The Griffins earned an automatic berth to the NCAA DII Volleyball Championship and will learn its fate Sunday, Nov. 11 at 10 p.m.