Box Score

ERIE, Pa.- The Mercyhurst volleyball team lost, 3-1, to #18 Wheeling Jesuit Saturday night. On senior night, the Lakers fell by scores of 25-21, 17-25, 25-17, and 25-21 in the non-conference match at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.
 
The first game went back-and-forth with the score tying at 15, 17, and 18. Wheeling took a 20-18 edge before Veronica Crosby's kill. Three straight Cardinal points made it 23-19 and then Becky Leusch and Camille Alvarez each posted kills from Kiera Rebert to get the Lakers back in the game. Madison Strall and Jenna Pew answered with kills for the visitors, and Wheeling had a win in set one.
 
Rebert started the second frame with a strong run, serving the first five points, capping the run with an ace. Wheeling bounced back to even the score at 10 and then the sides traded points. A Leusch kill gave the hosts a 17-15 advantage and then Kelly Vitt's ace made it 20-15. Kills by Amanda Balasko, Rachel Crittle and Alvarez ended the game with the match even at one apiece.
 
The Cardinals won the last two sets, but Mercyhurst made them work for it. The third game was tied at 16. Wheeling Jesuit went on a run from there, taking control with four late kills by Allissa Ware.
 
Leusch led with 12 kills and five blocks. Balasko totaled 9 kills, while Vitt had 20 assists. Elyse Texido collected 33 digs in the back row.
 
The Lakers dropped to 24-8, while WJU improved to 29-2 in 2012. Mercyhurst travels to IUP on Friday, November 9, for its next outing.