Box Score

EAST STROUDSBURG – Natalie Cignetti registered 15 kills and seven digs, and Sami Brown added 11 kills to lead IUP to a 3-0 victory over East Stroudsburg University in the PSAC opener for both teams on Friday night. Set scores were 25-19, 25-21, 25-23.

Sophomore Sarah Smith had 12 kills and a .229 attack percentage for the Warriors (8-3, 0-1 PSAC), who saw their five-match winning streak come to an end. Senior Desiree Claxton chipped in eight kills and 11 digs, while sophomores Sam Dunphy and Jasmine Williams and senior Courtney Miller had three blocks apiece at the net.

The Crimson Hawks (10-3, 1-0 PSAC) extended their own winning streak to five matches. IUP hit .239 overall in the match compared to a .200 percentage for the home side.

Little separated the teams in each of the final two sets. A block by Smith pulled ESU within 19-18 late in the second, but the visitors won each of the following four points to take control of the frame.

The Warriors then maintained a 22-19 advantage in the closing stages of the third set. The Crimson Hawks responded with a 5-0 run, highlighted by a pair of aces from Breanna Damiani, to take a 24-22 lead. A Claxton kill helped ESU save the first match point, but Gabby Egler sealed the match with a kill on the following point.

Cignetti, a first team All-Atlantic region and first team All-PSAC performer in 2016, recorded double-digit kills for a ninth time in 13 matches this season.

Senior Rosa Veliky led the Warrior defense with 13 digs, while senior Erica Cunningham recorded 30 assists for the home side. ESU was held without a service ace for the first time in 11 matches this fall.

The Warriors remain at Koehler Fieldhouse on Saturday afternoon, as they will host Clarion in a PSAC matchup scheduled to begin at 12 p.m.

Note:

April Mellott, an ESU volleyball standout who led the program to its only NCAA tournament appearance in 2000, was one of 10 individuals and one team inducted into the ESU Athletics Hall of Fame at the Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort on Friday night. Mellott, who played from 1999-2002, is the program leader in career (1,578) and single-season (506 in 2002) kills. She is the seventh volleyball member to earn a spot in the athletics Hall of Fame.