CLARION’S FRIES NAMED PSAC-WEST PLAYER OF THE WEEK

            Clarion University senior right-side hitter Sarah Fries (Willard, Ohio/Willard) is the PSAC-West Player of the Week after helping the Golden Eagles to a 4-0 mark last week including wins over Regional ranked Lock Haven and Kutztown.

            Fries, who has won the Player of the Week award twice this year, posted 5.8 kills per game and a .351 hitting percentage during the week while totaling 58 kills, 39 digs and seven blocks. She had 20 kills and 21 digs in a 3-1 win over Lock Haven, the third ranked team in the Atlantic Region, while adding 23 kills and 12 digs in a 3-0 win over Kutztown, the sixth ranked team in the Atlantic Region.

            On the season, Fries is fourth in the PSAC in kills per game (3.99) while totaling 311 kills and 231 digs (2.96 per game). She leads the Golden Eagles with 40 service aces.

            Clarion is 22-3 overall and 5-2 in the PSAC-West heading into Tuesday’s PSAC-West match at California. The Golden Eagles were ranked fourth in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region at the last rankings (Oct. 10).

            GOLDEN EAGLE NOTES – Clarion has a magic number of one to clinch its first PSAC Playoff berth since 2004. Any combination of one Golden Eagle win and one Lock Haven loss will secure the berth for Clarion … Clarion has qualified for four of the past five NCAA Division II playoffs including last season … The 20-win season is a school-record seventh straight for Clarion … Fries was also Player of the Week Sept. 18 … Clarion has had four Players of the Week this season with Christina Steiner winning the award Oct. 5 and Oct. 11 … Fries is sixth in school history in kills with 1,130 and needs 41 to moved into fifth place.