CALIFORNIA, Pa. -- The Mercyhurst volleyball team fell to Notre Dame (Ohio), 3-2, and then swept Southern New Hampshire, 3-0, during Saturday's day-two action at the California (Pa.) Invitational.

The Lakers (5-8) will be in action next when they visit Kutztown and East Stroudsburg next weekend.

Notre Dame 3, Mercyhurst 2 (24-26, 25-17, 25-21, 19-25, 15-11)
Katie Baird had 14 kills and Beth Brady compiled nine kills and 15 digs for the Lakers.

Claire Kenny and Mary Marusza added 23 and 18 assists each. Leah Ken made five total blocks and Zoe Gadomski totaled four aces.

Mary Kate McHugh had 20 kills to lead NDC and Paige Staudacher set 53 assists.

With the fifth set tied 6-6, the Falcons outscored Mercyhurst, 9-5, the rest of the way.

Mercyhurst took a 1-0 match lead through a thrilling first set. The Lakers held set point at 24-19 before Notre Dame rallied to tie the score at 24-24. Kills from Shelby Chesko and then Baird ended the set.

NDC built early leads in the second and third sets and led most of the way in taking a 2-1 match lead.

During the fourth, Mercyhurst snapped an 8-all tie with eight straight points. Gadomski had three aces during that charge while Brady put down two kills. The Lakers led the rest of the set, setting the stage for the fateful fifth.


Mercyhurst 3, Southern New Hampshire 0 (25-15, 25-18, 25-12)
Katie Baird smashed 10 kills while Alyssa Kling and Alyssa Zirnheld contributed eight each for the Lakers. Zirnheld also had six aces while Larissa Cass smashed four as the team totaled 12.

Claire Kenny made 16 assists, Mary Marusza had 12 assists and Hannah Vuylsteke finished with 12 digs.

Mercyhurst took command with a 5-1 run in winning the first. It trailed in the second, 10-8, before enjoying a 7-0 run in which Zirnheld smacked two aces. Cass had three aces in a 6-0 streak later in the set.

During the third, MU enjoyed a 13-1 stretch. Zirnheld hammered four aces and Kling had three kills during the run.

Irem Bat led SNHU with eight kills.