Seton Hill hosted Clarion on Senior Night in the McKenna Center on Friday night looking to keep its playoff hopes alive.  It did not look good for the Griffins after the third set as they trailed 2-1 but the team responded with a fourth set blowout win and a 15-12 win in the fifth set for a 3-2 victory over the Golden Eagles.  Senior Cassie Hausfeld led the way with a match high 21 kills in the match.   The win improves the Griffins to 18-12 overall and 10-7 in PSAC play while Clarion falls to 16-13 overall and also 10-7 in PSAC play.  The win sets up a win and you're in situation on Saturday afternoon in the regular season finale against Indiana (PA).

The early portion of the first set ws played very closely as the teams were tied at 10 in the set.  SHU then went on a 4-0 run to take a 14-10 lead.  Two kills from Jillian Livorse and one from Jenna Sassack keyed the run.  SHU increased their lead to 18-13 on a kill from Hausfeld.  Clarion answered with four straight but SHU used a 4-0 run of their own to take a 24-19 lead.  Another kill from Livorse gave SHU a 25-20 first set win.

The second set was also close early but Clarion used a 6-1 run to take an 11-7 lead in the set. The Golden Eagles built their lead to 23-17 late in the set.  SHU then scored three straight on kills from Livorse, Hausfeld and Maggie Murray but the Eagles closed out the set and tied the match at one with a 25-20 win.

Clarion built an early 10-5 lead in the third set.  SHU battled back and cut the lead to 13-11 after two kills from Katie Wenson and one from Livorse.  Clarion then went on a 6-1 run to extend their lead to 19-12 forcing a Griffin timeout.  SHU answered back with a 6-0 run with two kills from Sassack but Clarion was able to take a 2-1 lead with a 25-21 third set win. 

With their backs against the wall and their playoff lives at stake, SHU put up a fight behind the senior Hausfeld in the last two sets.  SHU came out of the gates firing and took an early 5-1 lead forcing a Clarion timeout.  Two kills from Rachel Satira and Wenson keyed the start.  A third kill from Wenson gave SHU a 6-2 advantage.  The Griffins used some Clarion errors to extend their lead to 10-4.  Back to back kills from Hausfeld gave SHU a 12-8 lead.  Clarion got to within 14-11 but the Griffins put the set away with a 6-0 run.  Hausfeld had two more kills as SHU evened the match with a 25-14 fourth set win. 

Hausfeld and Murray opened the fifth set with kills giving SHU the early 2-0 lead.  Another kill from Hausfeld gave SHU a 3-1 lead.  Clarion then scored four straight to take a 5-3 advantage and force a SHU timeout.  Hausfeld came out of the timeout with a kill and after a Clarion service error SHU trailed just 6-5.  Two straight gave Clarion an 8-5 advantage at the turn.  SHU then had their biggest response of the match with a 5-0 run.  Hannah Moeller followed a Clarion error with an ace.  Wenson and Livorse teammed up for a block and two more Clarion hitting errors extended the SHU lead to 10-8.  The set was tied at 11 when Sassack gave the Griffins the lead for good.  Hausfeld followed with a kill and SHU led 13-11.  After Clarion cut the lead to 13-12, Hausfeld put one to the ground and Murray ended the match in style with an ace.

Hausfeld led the Griffins with a match high 21 kills.  She also added 21 digs.  Livorse finished the match with 13 kills and 14 digs.  Sassack finished with 8 kills.  Murray led the offense with 41 assists.  Mary Baich had a match high 32 digs.

Seton Hill will close out the regular season with a home match against IUP on Saturday at 1 PM.  The winner clinches a PSAC postseason berth.