GLENVILLE, W.Va. – Coach Kiara Perkins and her Glenville State University Volleyball team powered their way to an exciting doubleheader split with the WVU-Tech Golden Bears on Friday night. GSU came back from two sets down in Match One to win 23-25, 23-25, 25-21, 25-17,25-13. In Match Two, Tech dominated the early sets, recording the victory 28-26, 25-13, 25-22.

Game 1
Glenville rallied for their second consecutive epic five-set victory, following up on Tuesday's win over Salem. Tech opened the match fast, sprinting out to an early 15-4 lead in the first set. Glenville rallied, but could not fully consummate their furious comeback, falling just short 23-25. The second set went back and forth, but Tech made some key plays down the stretch to close the set with another two-point win; going up 2-0.

Perkins' squad did not fold as they came back with a burst of energy in the third set. With the teams battling close throughout the mid-point of the set, the Pioneers materialized a strong late-set surge to forge 25-21 set win to stay alive. The fourth set was much of the same, though the Pioneer separation came in the middle of set. They were able to ride that momentum forward to a 25-17 set victory.

WVU-Tech answered in earnest in the fifth and deciding set. Coach Amber Linville's squad controlled play early and built a solid 10-6 lead. With the match hanging in the balance, Glenville produced the decisive rally of the night, closing the match with an exciting 9-3 flurry to close the issue with a 15-13 set win to steal the victory.

Katarzyna Niderla led the Pioneer offense with 17 kills, followed by Rita Kelly with 16 and Sydney Goodrich nine. Niderla posted a team-high six blocks, followed by Kelly with four and Nalaina Funk three. Setter Sarah Grainger delivered 46 assists, with Goodrich leading the defense with 32 digs, complemented by Lindsay Winkler with 22 and Grainger 15.

Ana Muniz Rocandio led Tech with 16 kills with Marianna Oyola Rivera tallying 11. Emily Stack led Tech with five blocks, while Rocandio and Brooke Presley each delivered a team-high 26 digs. Setter Julia McClanahan posted 37 assists.

The marathon match played for 212 back-and-forth points.

Game 2
Glenville appeared to have the first set in hand, enjoying six-point leads at 15-9 and 21-15. Unfortunately for the Pioneers, Tech rallied with a furious pace pushing the set to extra points. GSU had three set points, but could not close as Tech came back for a 28-26 set win. The second set was a Golden Bear show as Tech raced out to a quick 13-1 lead and coasted to a 25-13 set two victory.

Glenville was resilient, beginning the third set strong and racing to quick leads of 12-3 and 15-4. But Tech regained the momentum, rallying with a 13-3 surge to cut the deficit to 18-17. They then pushed onto a 25-22 set win to close the night.

Rocandio led Bears with 12 kills and McClanahan with 30 assists. Kelly had nine kills for Glenville, followed by Niderla with seven. Grainger added 22 assists and Morgan Stephenson a team-high 16 digs.

With the split, Glenville is now 2-5. Tech is 4-8.

Up Next For The Pioneers
Glenville is back in action next weekend, traveling to West Virginia Wesleyan for a weekend tournament that features four matches.