Pitt-Johnstown received a team-high eight kills from freshman Brooke Pelloni, but the Mountain Cats couldn't keep pace with Gannon's high-powered attack in a 3-0 setback (18-25, 21-25, 14-25) on Saturday afternoon at Highmark Events Center.

Lualis Alvarado provided 10 digs and seven kills for the Mountain Cats, who fell to 12-6 (3-3 PSAC). Natalie Lippincott added six kills and a match-high four blocks. Adiamar Beaz recorded 23 assists and nine digs. Gabi DeRenzo had a team-high 11 digs.

Gannon jumped out to an 11-3 lead in the opening set before Pitt-Johnstown began to methodically battle back. Down 16-9, four straight points that included two kills by Lippincott cut the deficit to 16-13.

But the Golden Knights benefitted from an attack error to cap a 6-2 run and eventually close the set.

For a second straight set, Gannon set the tone early on by notching the first 12 points of the set with the assistance of two kills apiece from Hailey Koch and Madde Blake.

Despite falling behind by as many as 13 at 18-5, the Mountain Cats came to life with a 4-0 run followed a bit later by a 6-0 spurt that trimmed it to 23-20. It would get no closer, though, as the Golden Knights brought the set to an end with a kill from Journey Blevins.

After a kill by Mallory Pinske brought Pitt-Johnstown to within 5-3 in the third set, Gannon rattled off four straight points aided by two aces from Anja Vranic to take a six-point advantage and carry the set from that point on.

Blake registered a match-high 15 kills for the Golden Knights, who improved to 13-3 (5-1 PSAC).

Pitt-Johnstown hosts Slippery Rock on Friday at 6 p.m.