ERIE, Pa. – The Mercyhurst volleyball team fell in five sets to Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference opponent Edinboro on Friday. The Lakers claimed sets two (25-23) and four (25-18), leaving Edinboro to take sets one (25-16), three (25-20), and five (15-8).
 
The Lakers were led by Katie Baird who notched 12 kills, a pair of aces and six digs on the game. Shelby Chesko trailed by a single kill contributing 11, two digs, and two block assists. Alyssa Kling rounded out the top three performers with eight kills, and four blocks of which two were solo.
 
Makayla Mollé led assists with 16 Abby Rose contributed 14. Rose had the most aces for Mercyhurst with three two of which were consecutive. Hannah Vuylsteke led digs with 13, Mollé contributed 10. Leah Kern and Kling both contributed four blocks apiece, Kern recorded one solo block and three block assists.
 
Edinboro was led by Cierah Jackson and Challen Litwiler who both had 18 kills, Litwiler recorded four aces. Jill Glover was the next highest contributed with nine kills and one dig.
 
Mercyhurst stumbled during set one falling 16-25. Mercyhurst would hold its highest lead of the set when they went up 10-8. Edinboro scored the next four points to claim a 12-10 lead, and when on a streak holding the Lakers to just six of the next 19 points.
 
Mercyhurst held grabbed set two 25-23 knotting the game's action at 1-1. Mercyhurst would come back from an early 0-1 deficit to take the lead for the rest of set. The Lakers stretched their lead to as high as 12-7. Rose was a large contributor in the Lakers early lead as she served for five straight points, having back to back aces. Edinboro would fight back to draw the action as close as 22-21 but would not be able to tip the score in their favor.
  
The Lakers fell in set three 20-15 despite claiming an early 2-0 lead. Scoring was tight during the third set with no team holding more than a two point lead over the other until Edinboro snatched a 22-19 lead over the Lakers they then earned three of the next four points to win the set move ahead in the game to 2-1.
 
The Lakers grabbed the fourth set 25-18, forcing a fifth and final set. Mercyhurst trailed by as much as 1-4 early in the set but fought to knot the action 5-5. Mercyhurst would take the next five consecutive points, Rose served for four of these points. Vuylsteke served for a three point bringing the Lakers to a 23-17 lead. Larissa Cass earned the final kill of the set tying the game 2-2.
 
Edinboro claimed the final set 15-8. Mercyhurst grabbed the initial point, this was the only time they would hold the lead in the set. Edinboro would extend their lead to 15-8 at its highest, earning the set and the game.


The Lakers will return to action tomorrow in their final regular season game when they host  Slippery Rock in PSAC action at 4pm.