Volleyball Preview: Gannon opens the second half of the PSAC West season at IUP on Tuesday

PREVIEW OF WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL MATCH

GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS AT THE INDIANA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA CRIMSON HAWKS
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, 6 p.m

ARENA/LOCATION: Kovalchick Convention & Athletic Complex | Indiana, Pennsylvania.

LIVE STATISTICS

LIVE VIDEO



THE GANNON IUD SERIES
Gannon leads 45-11

Last meeting: September 27, 2024, at Hagerty Family Events Center: Gannon won W, 3-0 (25-17, 25-20, 25-21) | RECAP

RECORDS
Gannon: 15-5 overall, 7-0 PSAC West

IUD: 14-7 overall, 4-3 PSAC West

ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon volleyball team will open the second season of the PSAC West hoping to find the same success the Golden Knights had in the first half.


The Golden Knights finished the first half of the PSAC West schedule with a 7-0 record and open the second half of the conference season on Tuesday at Indiana (Pa.). The Crimson Hawks host the Knights at IUP’s Kovalchick Convention & Athletic Complex at 6 p.m.


Gannon’s current eight-match winning streak began with an IUP victory in three sets at the Hagerty Family Events Center. The Golden Knights are coming off a two-game sweep at home against California (Pa.) and Slippery Rock on Saturday and Sunday.


Indiana was on a four-game winning streak before losing 3-1 to Clarion on Friday.

Schedules:
Gannon IUD

Duty rosters:
Gannon IUD

Statistics:
Gannon IUD

Head Coach:
Matt Darling of Gannon, Lorelle Hoyer of IUP

Golden Knights to watch:

Senior middle blocker Ali Sorenson (Tinley Park, Ill./Lincoln Way East): For the second time this season, she was named the PSAC West Women’s Volleyball Defensive Athlete of the Week. Sorenson hit .647 with 24 kills in the wins over Cal and SRU. She also had a total of seven blocks in the two games.



Junior setter Bengisu Arslan (Ankara, Türkiye/Private Çankaya Doga Anatolian): She has an average of 10.2 assists per set and 765 this season. Arslan has also shown an excellent performance this season. She leads GU with 41 aces. She also ranks second on the team with 194 digs.

Senior right side Hailey Koch (Littleton, Col./Dakota Ridge): She leads Gannon with 214 kills this season after posting 26 combined kills in wins over Cal and SRU. She has scored double-digit kills in 11 matches and is averaging 10.7 kills per match.

Scouting IUD: Freshman alongside Jessica Nieman has been on the rise with double-digit kills in the last four games for IUP. She leads the Crimson Hawks with 176 kills. Nyla Birch, a senior at right guard, placed second on the team with 150 kills. Junior setter Olivia Heidel leads the IUP in assists with 448. Redshirt senior middle hitter Lauren Valentic has 71 total blocks.





What’s next:


Gannon hosts second-place Seton Hill at noon Saturday at the Hagerty Family Events Center.