CLARION, Pa. – In a match that saw 11 lead changes and the score tied 29 times, the East Stroudsburg University women's volleyball team rallied to defeat Clarion 3-2 (23-25, 30-28, 25-22, 29-31, 15-13) on Friday night.
 
ESU (10-3, 1-0 PSAC Central) won its fifth consecutive match and opened conference action after playing its first 12 matches against non-conference opponents.
 
The Warriors were paced by a career-high 16 kills from senior Sam Dunphy, who also recorded 11 digs and seven block assists. Sophomore Caylinn Davis added a career-high 15 kills in the contest for ESU to go along with 11 digs and two service aces. Senior Sarah Smith tallied 15 kills and 27 digs, while redshirt junior Trea-sure Ketter recorded a career-high 10 kills and 12 total blocks.
 
The 12 total blocks by Ketter are the most in a single match for the Warriors since she recorded 11 last season against Kutztown. Freshman Rachel Cain tallied the most assists for ESU in a five-set match (56) since 2002. Tina Predojevic, who graduated last season recorded 55 against Kutztown and 52 against Edinboro.
 
Clarion opened the first set on a 5-1 run before a kill from Ketter slowed the quick start by the Golden Eagles. ESU would knot the score 9-9 after a kill by Ketter and a double block by Smith and Ketter. The Warriors held a pair of leads late in the set as Smith made it 20-18 and sophomore Jasmine Mooney 22-19.
 
ESU knotted the score 23-23 following a kill from freshman Jessica Irwin but would see the Golden Eagles tally the next two points to secure a 25-23 victory in the first set. Julia Holden recorded both kills to give Clarion the early advantage.
 
The Golden Eagles would take an 18-12 lead in the second set off an ace from Alexa Cundy as ESU would call a timeout. The Warriors trimmed the deficit to 18-14 out of the timeout thanks to a pair of attack errors by Clarion.
 
Trailing 24-20 in the set, ESU used a 5-0 run to take a 25-24 lead as Dunphy and Davis started the rally with consecutive kills for the Warriors. With the set tied 28-28, Davis and Smith delivered back-to-back kills to give ESU a 30-28 victory and knot the match 1-1.
 
ESU found itself trailing 7-3 in the third set before rallying to knot the score 10-10 and eventually take 14-10 advantage on the heels of an 8-0 run. The Warriors increased their lead to 17-14 in the set but would see Clarion cut the deficit to a single point as Aubrey Wrona made it 17-16. Clarion trimmed the deficit to 24-22 late in the set following a kill from Wrona before an attack error by the Golden Eagles secured the 25-22 victory for ESU.
 
The fourth set would be a marathon for both sides as it featured seven lead changes and 17 tie scores. Clarion took an early 5-1 advantage as ESU would use a timeout to try and shift the momentum. The Warriors would eventually knot the score 7-7 following consecutive aces from sophomore Emily Meredith.
 
ESU evened the score and took a late 23-22 lead in the set on the heels of consecutive double-blocks from Dunphy and Ketter. The Warriors had a chance to clinch the set and the match with a 24-23 lead until Holly Pitman delivered a kill to knot the score 24-24. Clarion rallied to win the set and even the score 2-2 as a service error and double block by the Golden Eagles secure the 31-29 victory.
 
The Warriors would take an 8-5 lead in the fifth set as Clarion opted for a timeout to try and slow the ESU offense. A double block from Ketter and Dunphy would lead to Clarion using its second timeout of the set. Trailing 14-11, Clarion tallied back-to-back points to cut the deficit to 14-13.
 
ESU would use its first timeout of the set and it would prove to be a good one as a service error by the Golden Eagles out of the break secured the 15-13 victory for the Warriors and the 3-2 win in the match.
 
The Warriors will put their winning streak on the line when they travel to Slippery Rock for a 1 p.m. match on Saturday. ESU opens a three-game homestand on Oct. 3 against Edinboro at 7 p.m.