Box Score

ERIE, Pa.- The Mercyhurst volleyball team dropped a five-game decision to Slippery Rock Saturday afternoon. The Lakers fell in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division contest by scores of 22-25, 25-21, 25-22, 23-25, and 15-6 at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.
 
The match was another intense bout between division foes. A Camille Alvarez ace had the hosts ahead, 22-17, in the first game, but the Rock rallied to pull within 24-22. Kelly Vitt found Rachel Crittle for a set-ending kill, giving the Lakers a 1-0 match edge.
 
After The Rock took two tight games, Mercyhurst fought back with a win in the fourth. Kills by Crittle and Sarah Puckett made it 18-15 Mercyhurst, but SRU took a 19-18 advantage later. Vitt recorded a point and then set up consecutive Erin Byrnes kills for a 23-21 lead. Lauren Kenny scored and then the Rock committed an error to allow the Lakers to force a fifth set.
 
Lexi Stefanov paced the Lakers with 15.5 points, while Alvarez and Crittle each added 11.5 on the day. Vitt totaled a career-high 55 assists, along with 16 digs. Samantha Giardina tallied 21 digs.
 
Mercyhurst (9-4, 4-2 PSAC) hosts rival Gannon in another PSAC West match on Tuesday, September 30, at 7:05 p.m.