ERIE, Pa.- The Mercyhurst volleyball fell to California (Pa.) in five games Friday night at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center. The Lakers dropped the tight Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division match by scores of 25-22, 25-27, 21-25, 29-27, and 17-15.
 
Mercyhurst continued its trend of playing dramatic contests, as it went to five sets for the fifth time this season, including in each of its last three home outings. In the opener Friday, neither team led by more than four throughout, with a Cal score putting the visitors ahead, 1-0, in the match.
 
The Lakers took several four-point edges in the second frame, but the Vulcans came back, tying the set at 22, 23, 24, and 25. Kelly Vitt then found Rachel Crittle for a kill and then Crittle teamed up with Camille Alvarez for a block to even the match.
 
By comparison, the third game was tame, as Mercyhurst took an early lead and held off Cal throughout. After the visitors tied the set at 20, Lexi Stefanov and Alvarez scored from Vitt. Two Cal attack errors put the hosts on set point, where Stefanov and Lauren Kenny combined for a block to give the Lakers a 2-1 match advantage.
 
In the fourth frame, Mercyhurst controlled the early action, going up, 12-7 on a Vitt-Stefanov combination for a kill. Vitt assisted on a pair of points by Alvarez and then a Stefanov kill to make it 20-16 later in the set. Points by Stefanov and Sarah Wegrzyn made it 23-21 and a Haley Adams ace made it match point. Cal fought off four match points and took the game, 29-27.
 
The Lakers went up, 3-0, in the fifth, but Cal rallied. The Vulcans appeared to have the advantage, but Mercyhurst clawed back, as Crittle posted a kill and an ace to pull within a point. After a pair of Vulcan scores, the Lakers took advantage of two Cal errors. Within a point at 13-12, Vitt hit Kenny for a kill. Kenny and Stefanov followed with a block to go ahead, 14-13. Cal answered with a pair of points before Alvarez recorded her 20^th kill of the night to even the score at 15. The visitors came back with two kills to close out the match, however.
 
Vitt finished with 59 assists and 25 digs. Alvarez put up 20.5 points and 12 digs, while Stefanov tallied 20 points. Crittle scored 17, Kenny added 15, and Wegrzyn compiled 14 points.
 
Mercyhurst is now 14-8 overall and 9-5 in the league. Cal moved to 20-5 overall and 12-2 in the PSAC. The Lakers host Seton Hill in another Western Division match tomorrow. The contest is scheduled for a 4:05 p.m. start at the MAC.