CALIFORNIA, Pa. -- The Mercyhurst volleyball team split its two matches on Friday at the California (Pa.) Invitational, falling to No. 1-ranked Nebraska-Kearney, 3-0, before defeating West Virginia Wesleyan, 3-0.

The Lakers will return to action on Saturday at the tournament.


#1 Nebraska-Kearney 3, Mercyhurst 0 (25-13, 25-10, 25-21)
Katie Baird and Alyssa Zirnheld had nine and eight kills, respectively for Mercyhurst. Claire Kenny finished with 14 assits.s

Julianne Jackson led UNK with 15 kills and Lindsey Smith had 35 assists.

Kearney ended the first set with a 5-0 run and used a 9-0 run to pull away in the second set. During the third, the Lakers jumped out to an early 4-0 lead. Later in the set, UNK broke a 15-all tie with five straight points and led the rest of the way.

Mercyhurst 3, West Virginia Wesleyan 0 (25-12, 25-11, 25-21)
Katie Baird smashed 11 kills and Shelby Chesko totaled seven kills and four total blocks for Mercyhurst (4-7). Mary Marusza added 12 assists.

Alexie Arnold led WVW with eight kills.

The Lakers took command with early runs in each set. In the first, MU jumped out to a 4-0 lead, which began a 10-2 stretch in which Baird and Larissa Cass had two kills apiece. Hannah Vuylsteke delivered two aces in a 5-0 streak later in the set.

Mercyhurst began the second with a 10-0 charge, getting three kills and one block from Baird in the process. The Lakers opened the third with a 6-0 streak.