EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. - On a night where the Mercyhurst volleyball team had three players post double-digit kills it was not enough as the Lakers dropped their second straight Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference contest falling by a 3-1 score at East Stroudsburg University on Saturday night.  

Early in the first a kill by Katie Baird brought the visitors to within 4-3.  However, the Warriors at that point erupted as Jasmine Mooney, Sam Dunphy, Sarah Smith, Jasmine Williams, and Trea-sure Ketter put together a 12-3 explosion to put the home team ahead 16-6.  The only Lakers scores during that push were a pair of kills from Tess Ganich and one by Madison Kasper.  Mercyhurst attempted a rally with a Kasper kill coupled with two Dunphy errors brought the gap to 16-9.  Unfortunately, a Smith kill put the wraps on a 9-2 stretch to end the set 25-11.

The second began strong for the Warriors with Smith and Dunphy putting down kills for a 6-1 edge.  Mercyhurst came back on a 5-1 gallop thanks to kills by Leah Kern, Hannah Vuylsteke, and Ganich to close the margin to one 7-6.  ESU responded on scores from Ketter, Williams, Dunphy, Smith and Mooney to reclaim a four-point cushion 12-8.  After, kills by Baird for Mercyhurst and Dunphy from the Warriors the hosts maintained the 17-13 lead.  Six of the ensuing seven points went to the Lakers on scores by Zoe Gadomski, Kasper, and Kern allowing them to snag a slim 19-18 edge.  ESU did not let the visitors continue their push however, as Rachel Cain, Smith, and Ketter capping off a 7-1 charge for the 25-20 win.  

After falling behind 3-1 to start the third, the Lakers roared back as Baird, Ganich, and Vuylsteke put down kills to move in front 7-4.  With the Warriors down 9-5, Kenzie Guimont, Jessica Irwin, and Mooney brought the home side level 9-9 on four straight points.  Kills by Addy Benjamin, Alyssa Zirnheld, Kasper, Baird, and Ganich sparked a 7-3 run to claim a 16-12 lead.  A kill by Mooney made it 17-14, before Alexa Mitchell, Kasper, and Baird helped to secure the following five points to push the edge to 22-14.  The Warriors did not go quietly as they went on a 10-2 march led by kills from Erin Lutz, Dunphy, Guimont, and Irwin to level the score 24-24.  A Zirnheld kill and Dunphy error gave the visitors the frame and life in the match 26-24. 

The two sides shared the first ten points of the fourth to be locked 5-5.  The Warriors took five of the next seven with Caylinn Davis, Williams, Smith, and Lutz recording scores for the 10-7 lead.  Each side put together a 3-0 run to leave the Lakers still down three 13-10.  The nip-and-tuck set continue as Zirnheld and Ganich helped to split the next eight points to continue to hold that three-point margin 17-14.  Kills by Kasper and Zirnheld coupled with a Dunphy error trimmed the gap to 18-17.  ESU answered back with a 4-1 stretch as an assisted block by Smith and Ketter made it 22-18.  The Lakers did not quit as Ganich and Baird recorded kills during a 5-2 run bringing the margin to 24-23.  Unfortunately, Williams put down the next point to end the match 25-23.  

Ganich (15), Baird (14), and Zirnheld (13) led the Lakers in kills.  Vuylsteke added 26 digs, while Claire Kenny chipped in 25 assists along with 13 digs.  

Smith paced the Warriors offense with 12 kills as well as 18 digs and eight blocks.  Ketter picked up five kills and totaled ten block assists.  

Mercyhurst will look to snap their two-game skid tomorrow October 6th when they travel to Kutztown University for more PSAC play.  First service against the Golden Bears is set for 2pm.