TWO GOLDEN EAGLES NAMED TO DAKTRONICS ATLANTIC REGION VOLLEYBALL TEAM

Clarion University’s Sarah Fries and Christina Steiner were recently named to the Daktronics Atlantic Region Volleyball team. Fries is a first-team member at Opposite/Right Side Hitter and Steiner is a second-team selection at outside hitter.

The duo led Clarion to a 28-6 overall record and 7-3 PSAC-West record this season, the school’s first NCAA Division II Playoff win and a second-place finish in both the PSAC and PSAC-West. It was Clarion’s highest PSAC finish since taking second in 1989.

On the season, Fries, who was also a first-team PSAC-West selection, was fourth in the PSAC in kills per game 3.94 and had 430 kills to go along with 361 digs (3.31 per game), 69 blocks and 54 service aces. She finished her career with the fourth most kills in school history (1,249) while adding 713 career digs, 152 blocks and 89 service aces.

Steiner, a first-team PSAC-West selection as well, was second in the PSAC in kills per game (4.29) and finished the year with 476 kills while adding 432 digs (3.89 per game). She finished her career as one of just three players in school history with 1,000 career kills and 1,000 career digs and ranks third in Clarion history in kills with 1,334 and 11^th in digs (1,143).

GOLDEN EAGLE NOTES – Fries’ first-team selection means she will now be considered for All-American … Fries and Steiner are the first Clarion All-Region selections since 2004 when Colleen Sherk and Ashley Kreiner were first team choices and Vicky Gentile was second-team selection … The 28 wins are the third most in school history … Clarion’s 3-1 win over Lees-McRae in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Tournament Thursday was the first NCAA Playoff victory in school history. The Golden Eagles well to Edinboro 3-1 in the second round Friday … Clarion won the PSAC Title in 1988 … Golden Eagle first-year head coach Jennifer Harrison’s 28 wins are a school record for a first-year mentor.