HUNTINGDON, Pa. – The Clarion volleyball team survived a wild five-set match on the road on Tuesday, defeating Juniata 3-2 (17-25, 25-20, 25-21, 20-25, 15-12) in a non-conference matchup.

The Golden Eagles (8-6) will be back in action this weekend when they head on the road for PSAC play.

Mackenzie Biggs went off offensively with 16 kills on 43 attempts, committing just three errors for a .302 hitting percentage. Two-time reigning PSAC Southwest Athlete of the Week Taylor Braunagel was just behind her with 15 kills on the night, while Marissa Robertson recorded a double-double with 11 kills and 20 digs.

Defensively, Catherine Ferragonio added a team-high 21 digs, Robertson had 20, and two others – Braunagel and Leah Vensel – each broke double-digits in the category. Lauryn Driscoll added five blocks.

The setting duo of Vensel and Kaley Pittsley were also successful, combining for 46 assists as the Golden Eagles came back for the victory.

Juniata raced out to a big lead in the first set and took it by a 25-17 score, but Clarion responded with a runaway victory of their own in the second set. Julia Holden put Clarion ahead 18-11 with a kill and forced a Juniata timeout in the process, and Olivia Olson quashed a rally with a kill to make it 23-18. Braunagel forced set point with a kill and a bad set by the Eagles gave Clarion the set victory.

The third set played much closer, with Clarion pulling away in the middle thanks to a 4-0 run that included a block by Biggs and Olson. Juniata pulled to within one point but Biggs responded with another kill. Holden made it 24-20 with a kill and Braunagel delivered the third set with a kill of her own.

The Eagles claimed the fourth set but Clarion was there to take the fifth, taking a late lead when Braunagel’s kill made it 9-8. Holden and Biggs bashed kills to break another tie, making it 12-10, and an error by Juniata’s Nakita Gearhart gave Clarion the win.

WOMEN’S TENNIS TOPS ALFORD

CLARION, Pa. – The Clarion women’s tennis team picked up their second win of the season on Tuesday, defeating the Saxons of Alfred University by a 7-2 score at Campbell Courts. The Golden Eagles are now 2-0 overall on the season.

Four players went 2-0 on the day, with Alivia Arnold, Maria Snyder, Michelle Petrilla and Allison Probst all winning both their respective singles and doubles matches. Katie Benson claimed a win at No. 5 singles, as well.

Doubles action opened with strong efforts from the top two doubles teams, with Arnold and Snyder combining for a win at No. 1 doubles over Tori Pellegrino and Emma Siemer. Petrilla and Probst also took a doubles win, beating Inda Gillett and Sarah Grace at No. 2.

Arnold dominated in a straight sets win at No. 1 singles, beating Pellegrino 6-1, 6-1, while Snyder downed Siemer 6-0, 6-0 at No. 2 singles. Probst survived a tiebreaker with Beryl Torthe at No. 4 singles to win 7-6 (3), 6-0, while Petrilla won in straight sets over Grace. Benson wrapped up the scoring for Clarion with a three-setter over Gillett, coming back from a second-set loss for a 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 win at No. 5 singles.

Doubles
1. Alivia Arnold/Maria Snyder (CLAR) def. Tori Pellegrino/Emma Siemer (AU) 8-4
2. Michelle Petrilla/Allison Probst (CLAR) def. Inda Gillett/Sarah Grace (AU) 8-4
3. Miranda Sakala/Amber Smith (AU) def. Katie Benson/Cindy Severi (CLAR) 8-5

Singles
1. Alivia Arnold (CLAR) def. Tori Pellegrino (AU) 6-1, 6-1
2. Maria Snyder (CLAR) def. Emma Siemer (AU) 6-0, 6-0
3. Michelle Petrilla (CLAR) def. Sarah Grace (AU) 6-1, 6-3
4. Allison Probst (CLAR) def. Beryl Torthe (AU) 7-6 (3), 6-0
5. Katie Benson (CLAR) def. Inda Gillett (AU) 6-2, 5-7, 6-1
6. Nurila Kambar (AU) def. Cindy Severi (CLAR) 6-3, 6-0

WOMEN’S SOCCER PLAYS TO SCORELESS DRAW

CANTON, Ohio – The Clarion women’s soccer team used a stifling defense to keep their opponent off the scoreboard, as the Golden Eagles played to a scoreless, double-overtime draw with Malone on Tuesday afternoon. Clarion (2-6-2, 2-5-1 PSAC) will be back in action with PSAC crossover action against Lock Haven and Mansfield this weekend.

The goalkeeping duo of Brigid Stermel and Krista Mosi combined for a total of 11 saves against Malone, with Stermel getting the start in net and Mosi coming in relief later in the game. The Pioneers fired three shots on net in the second overtime period but the Golden Eagles turned them away at every opportunity.

Marina Kelly fired four shots on the afternoon, including one on net, and also added a corner kick. Stephanie Lias and Alexa Stubenrauch also had opportunities on corner kicks against the Pioneers. Lias was also one of five Clarion players to put a shot on net in the game.

The most exciting sequence of the overtime period came in the 102nd minute and started off a coerner kick by Malone’s Darby Burch. It led immediately to three shots on net, with Riley Nicholson and Jeannette Soricelli putting shots on goal that were turned away by Mosi.