Erie, Pa.—Mercyhurst's Volleyball team fell to the University of Findlay on Saturday afternoon in the MAC. The Lakers fought hard but couldn't find the momentum to defeat the Oilers.
A kill from
Paige Miller and an ace from
Alexa Mitchell opened the match for the Lakers. Mercyhurst eventually went down 24-19 before going on a six-point rally with a pair of aces from Mitchell and two kills from Miller. After another kill from freshman
Maddie Parks, the Lakers gave up three in a row and fell in set one 28-26.
Set two began with a 7-1 run from the Oilers but was answered with kills from
Kaitlin Murphy and
Corinne Bechtold to put them within three. However, that is the closest the Lakers came in the 25-15 loss.
Mercyhurst jumped out to a quick 4-2 lead in set three highlighted by two kills from
Kate Hennessy. The Oilers found their footing and went up 18-14 deep in the set. However, the Mercyhurst offense came alive to tie the game at 23 on multiple kills from Miller and an ace from
Madalynn Ward. A set dump from Mitchell and a final kill from Hennessy forced a fourth set.
The Laker offense continued to buzz in the beginning of set five rattling off five kills to put them up 7-5. Two more kills from
Grace Crounse and Miller put the Laker lead up to five. However, Mercyhurst's defense hit a rut and allowed a six-point run from the opponent. More offense from Mercyhurst in the form of two aces from Miller and a kill from Hennessy put them right back in it and tied the game at 23. The Lakers couldn't find a way to get to 25 before the Oilers and dropped set four 26-24.
Hennessy led the Laker offense in kills with 16 while she and Murphy each denied the opposition three times. Mitchell collected 32 assists and
Zoe Gadomski had 18 digs.
The team travels to Clarion on Tuesday to open conference play in the PSAC West.
