ERIE, Pa.- The Mercyhurst volleyball team pulled out a dramatic five-game win over rival Gannon at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center Tuesday night. In the tense Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division contest, the Lakers rallied from a 2-0 match deficit to hand the Lady Knights their first loss of the season.
 
Mercyhurst has now won three straight over their crosstown rival and has beaten GU in each of the last meetings at the MAC. Entering Tuesday, Gannon was one of three unbeatens remaining in Division II. By the end of a thrilling night, the Lakers had knocked the Knights from that list.
 
After dropping two competitive games to open the evening, the Lakers turned the contest around in the third frame. They took a 20-14 lead and after two GU points, used a pair of Knight errors to keep their margin. Kelly Vitt found Lexi Stefanov and Camille Alvarez for kills and after a Gannon point, Vitt hit Alvarez for a score to win the set.
 
The hosts continued their momentum in the fourth, hitting a match-high .333 on their way to tying the match. Tai Lattimore served out a 5-0 run featuring an ace and two Sarah Wegrzyn kills. A Gannon substitution error took three GU points off the board and then Stefanov and Lauren Kenny teamed up for a block and a 17-7 advantage. Kenny followed with three points to stretch the lead. Rachel Crittle, Alvarez, and Stefanov each scored off Vitt helpers to close out the frame.
 
In the final game, Kenny and Stefanov combined for a block to go ahead, 3-1. Gannon remained close, though, eventually tying the set at 10. Two GU errors put the home team ahead and then Vitt found Stefanov for a kill and 13-11 edge. After a Gannon point, Vitt assisted on a Kenny kill to push the Knights to the brink. GU scored the next point, but Vitt set up Wegrzyn for the conclusive point as the Lakers rushed the floor in celebration.
 
The victory is Mercyhurst's first time rallying from a 2-0 match hole to win since October 7, 2008, at Slippery Rock.
 
Vitt finished with a career-high 65 assists, along with 14 digs and five block assists. Her assist total is the most by a Laker since Julia Butler dished out 66 helpers on October 13, 2006, in a five-game match against Gannon.
 
Stefanov put up 24 points, tying a career high with 19 kills and recording 10 block assists. Kenny tallied 16.5 points and Alvarez added 15 points and 20 digs. Samantha Giardina posted 28 digs, while Lattimore handled 16 off the bench.
 
Mercyhurst improved to 10-4 overall and 5-2 in the PSAC. Gannon fell to 13-1 overall and 6-1 in the league. The Lakers play at Indiana (Pa.) in another West match on Friday, October 3.