Johnstown, Pa. - The Mercyhurst Volleyball team traveled to UPJ for their final road game of the regular season. The Lakers battled and tried to make a comeback, but it wasn't enough as UPJ took the match in three sets.     

How it Happened 

Maggie Thomas gave the Lakers a 3-1 lead with back-to-back kills early in set one.  UPJ went on a short run to give themselves a 10-6 lead.  Kate Hennessy ended the run with kill.  UPJ went on another short run to extend their lead to 15-8.  Maggie Thomas and Andrea Zaric went back-to-back with kills to cut into the UPJ lead.  A few points later, Alia Mastromatteo assisted on a kill by Kate Hennessy and Ersa Akcay to make the score 21-15 in favor of UPJ.  Kate Hennessy followed that up with a service ace to draw a point closer.  UPJ closed out the set on a 4-1 run to take set one 25-17. 

After UPJ took a 5-1 lead in the second set, Andrea Zaric found an opening for a kill. The Lakers went on a 5-1 run to make the score 8-7 in favor of UPJ. UPJ followed up the Laker run with a 6-1 run of their own. That run was ended by an Ersa Akcay kill. UPJ proceeded to go on a 9-2 run to get closer to closing out the second set. The Lakers scored the next three points, and it included a Kate Hennessy kill. UPJ was able to get the final two points they needed to win set two. They won 25-14 and went up 2-0 in the match.  

Kate Hennessy scored the first two points of set three, notching a kill and a service ace. This gave the Lakers a 2-1 lead. After UPJ took a 6-3 lead, Mevelyn Brazoban notched a kill to make it 6-4. UPJ scored the next point, but the Lakers matched it with an Andrea Zaric kill. Both sides went back-and-forth, and the set was tied 13-13. UPJ went on a short 4-1 run to take a 17-14 lead, and the Lakers came back with a 3-0 run to tie it up at 17. Both sides traded points until it was tied at 20. During that stretch both Kate Hennessy and Ersa Akcay had kills. UPJ used a 5-2 run to close out set three and take the match 3-0.      

Highlights 

Kate Hennessy finished with ten kills and three service aces.  

Maggie Thomas had three blocks. 

Alexa Mitchell and Alia Mastromatteo each had 11 assists in the match.   

Andrea Zaric had 12 digs in the match. 

Next Up 

The Lakers will return home for a pair of home games next weekend against Edinboro on Friday and Gannon on Saturday.