PSAC West-leading Clarion responded to an opening set loss with three straight wins to take down the Mountain Cats in a four-set victory (22-25, 25-12, 25-17, 25-18) on Tuesday night in the Sports Center. The Mountain Cats slipped to 8-19 overall (1-12 PSAC West).

Lualis Alvarado tallied a team-high 12 kills and added nine digs. Natalie Lippincott and Abi Leitner each totaled seven kills.

After digging themselves a 14-8 hole in the first set, the Mountain Cats ripped off a 6-0 run to knot the set at 14-all. They grabbed a 19-18 lead off an attack error and never looked back after receiving a kill from Alvarado and another from Leitner to close out the win.

Clarion controlled play in the second set and after taking a 12-9 lead on a kill from Amy Regrut, the Eagles ended the frame on a 13-3 run. The third set was tied at 12 apiece, but a 6-1 spurt aided by two kills from Julia Piccolino gave Clarion an 18-13 lead it would never relinquish.

Piccolino added 13 kills for Clarion, which improved to 22-2 (12-1 in the PSAC West). Alyson Peters had nine kills, while Regrut contributed eight.

A ball handling error enabled the Mountain Cats to even the fourth set at 11. But a decisive 8-1 run spearheaded by three of Cassidy Snider's match-high 21 kills was enough for the Eagles to eventually secure the match.

Adiamar Beaz dished out 30 assists, six digs and a match-high four aces. Gabi DeRenzo posted a team-high 18 digs, while Karin Ilagan had 11. Mallory Pinske provided four blocks and Reagan Morris added two.

The Mountain Cats visit Indiana (PA) on Friday at 6 p.m.