Box Score

EAST STROUDSBURG – Senior Desiree Claxton became the third player in East Stroudsburg University history to reach 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in her collegiate career on Friday, accomplishing the feat with her 10th dig of the night in the Warriors' tight four-set defeat to Pitt-Johnstown at Koehler Fieldhouse.

Claxton ended the evening with 14 kills and 12 digs overall, as ESU battled throughout against a Mountain Cat team which finished as PSAC runner-ups and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Atlantic Region tournament a year ago. Set scores on Friday were 25-21, 23-25, 25-18, 25-21.

Claxton currently ranks third in program history with 1,098 kills, and she is now 10th all-time with 1,002 career digs. The double-double was her fourth of the season and the 33rd overall in her time at ESU.

Sophomore Sarah Smith added her second-consecutive double-double and her eighth on the year with a team-high 16 kills to go along with 19 digs. Smith managed a .231 attack percentage, and she also chipped in three blocks.

The Warriors out-blocked UPJ 9-4 overall, led by five from senior Courtney Miller (1 BS, 4 BA) and four from sophomore Jasmine Williams (4 BA). Miller, who entered tonight leading the PSAC with a .375 attack percentage, will see that figure rise after totaling seven kills with a team-best .429 kill rate against the Mountain Cats.

Cambria Wierman (16 kills, 16 digs), Marissa Erminio (15 kills, 30 digs) and Caitlin Vrabel (11 kills, .529 %) led the way for UPJ (16-5, 6-2 PSAC), which has won four of its past five matches.

After dropping the opening set, ESU hit .300 as a team in the second set to level up the match at 1-1. Claxton had a team-high six kills in the frame, which ended with three consecutive Warrior points after they trailed 23-22 in the closing stages.

The Mountain Cats won 11 of the first 15 points to take control early in the third set. They had another strong set in the fourth, jumping ahead 9-4, but ESU rallied to take its first lead of the frame at 17-16 on a kill by Miller. The advantage, though, would be short-lived, as UPJ won the next three points and ultimately held on to close out the four-set win.

Senior Rosa Veliky had another strong defensive effort for the Warriors, as she registered a team-high 23 digs. Veliky has tallied 20+ digs five times so far this season. Senior Erica Cunningham added 42 assists to go along with eight digs and a team-high three aces.

ESU (11-8, 2-6 PSAC) is right back at Koehler Fieldhouse at 1 p.m. on Saturday, with the Warriors hosting Lock Haven (9-11, 2-6 PSAC) in another conference matchup. The Bald Eagles fell 3-1 at Kutztown on Friday evening and have dropped six of their last seven.