Erie, Pa. - The Mercyhurst Volleyball team returned home after being on the road last week to host IUP for a PSAC matchup. IUP jumped on the Lakers early and was able to take the match 3-0.  

How it Happened 

IUP jumped out to a 6-1 lead early in set one. After errors by the Crimson Hawks, the Lakers cut the lead to 6-5. After IUP grabbed two more points, Maggie Thomas notched a kill, and Alexa Mitchell notched a service ace to make the score 8-7. After a little bit of play had gone by, IUP jumped out to a 19-14 lead. Maggie Thomas added her second kill of the set to pull a point closer. IUP finished the set on a 6-1 run to take the set 25-16.  

After IUP took a 3-1 lead, Kate Hennessy and Mevelyn Brazoban both tallied kills to tie the set up at three. IUP went on an 8-2 run to take an 11-5 lead. Maggie Thomas mixed in another kill during a Crimson Hawk run that extended their lead. After extending their lead to 20-10, IUP scored three points in a row, but Asli Erdi ended their run with a kill of her own. IUP scored the next two points to take the set 25-11.  

IUP started set three on a 10-0 run. An error by the Crimson Hawks got the Lakers on the board. After a bad set by the Lakers gave the Crimson Hawks a point, Kaitlin Murphy notched a kill and gave the Lakers the serve. The Lakers scored four straight points off Corinne Bechtold serves. Asli Erdi and Kate Hennessy tallied kills during that point stretch. IUP went up 19-8, but the Lakers didn't go away as Ersa Akcay and Mevelyn Brazoban helped cut into the lead with kills. The Lakers went on a 10-4 run to climb back into the set. During that stretch Kaitlin Murphy had a kill, Alia Mastromatteo had two kills, and Corinne Bechtold had one as well. The score was now 23-21 in favor of IUP. The Lakers comeback came up short as IUP scored two of the next three points to take the set 25-22, and the match 3-0.    

Highlights 

Kate Hennessy led the Lakers in kills with ten, and blocks with two. 

Maggie Thomas added four kills, and Andrea Zaric added three.  

Corinne Bechtold tallied three service aces, and seven digs which were both team highs. 

Alexa Mitchell finished with 13 assists.  

Next Up 

The Lakers will return to action tomorrow afternoon as they travel to Cal (Pa.) for a match. Start time for the match is set for at 2 PM.