Box Score

CLARION, Pa. – East Stroudsburg University began the PSAC portion of its 2016 schedule with a 3-0 defeat at Clarion on Friday evening. Set scores were 25-9, 25-20, 25-14.

Freshman outside hitter Sarah Smith had 10 kills to lead the Warriors (8-6, 0-1 PSAC), while Mackenzie Biggs had eight kills and a .636 attack percentage for the Golden Eagles (6-6, 1-0).

Clarion came out firing in the opening set, finishing the frame with 11 kills on 19 attempts. The Golden Eagles won 14 of the first 17 points to quickly take control, and that momentum carried over into the second set, as ESU found itself down 17-8 past the midway point.

Kills from junior Maddie Reichard and freshman Jasmine Williams highlighted a 4-1 run which brought the deficit down to six at 18-12, and a kill from Smith got the Warriors within four at 23-19 shortly afterwards. The Golden Eagles, however, took two of the next three points to grab a two-set advantage.

ESU stayed within striking distance early in the third set, with junior Desiree Claxton delivering a kill to make it 9-5, Clarion, but the home side then won six consecutive points on its way to closing out the sweep.

Claxton ranked second on the team with five kills, while her eight digs were one behind freshman Abby Moore, who led the team with nine. Smith, meanwhile, cracked double figures in kills for the 10th time in 14 matches so far this fall.

The Warriors remain on the road for their next matchup, traveling to IUP for a 2 p.m. contest on Saturday.