Pitt-Johnstown gave 2022 PSAC runner-up finisher Clarion all it could handle, but the Mountain Cats were ultimately swept (21-25, 20-25, 21-25) in a PSAC West matchup on Tuesday evening at Tippin Gymnasium.

Natalie Lippincott racked up a team-high 13 kills for Pitt-Johnstown, which dropped to 10-3 (1-1 PSAC). Lualis Alvarado added 10 kills and eight digs. Brooke Pelloni chipped in seven kills.

Adiamar Beaz registered 27 assists, six digs, three kills and a match-high three aces. Jessica Krug collected a team-high 13 digs, while Gabi DeRenzo provided 11.

The Mountain Cats put the pressure on the Golden Eagles from the jump, taking an 8-3 lead to force a timeout in the first set after back-to-back kills from Pelloni and an ace from Liredys Casiano. Clarion bounced back with a 12-2 run to go up 15-10 and take the lead for good. Pitt-Johnstown clawed to within two at 23-21, but Clarion benefitted from back-to-back errors to grab a 1-0 lead.

The second set was knotted up nine times, the last time coming when the Golden Eagles tied the match at 14-all on an attack error. An 8-3 run from that point was capped with a kill from Charlie Allison that made it 22-17. Cassidy Snider registered a kill to bring the second set to a close.

Lippincott's kill early in the third frame provided the Mountain Cats with a 3-2 lead. Despite falling behind by as many as five, Pitt-Johnstown tied it at 16 courtesy of a bad set charged to Clarion. Following a timeout, Clarion would seal the match on a 9-5 run, with another kill from Snider once again being the dagger.

Snider supplied a team-high 13 kills and added 11 digs for the Golden Eagles, which improved to 13-2 (3-0 PSAC).

Pitt-Johnstown visits Indiana (PA) on Saturday at 12 p.m. for another PSAC West battle.