Erie, Pa. – The Mercyhurst Lakers Volleyball team put up a strong fight but ultimately fell to LIU in four sets (25-22, 18-25, 15-25, 11-25) on Friday night at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.  

How It Happened: 

The Lakers started strong in the first set, edging out LIU 25-22. Andrea Zaric and Kaitlin Murphy led the offensive charge for Mercyhurst, helping the team secure an early lead. However, LIU responded in the second set, taking advantage of Mercyhurst errors to win 25-18. 

In the third set, LIU's offense found a rhythm, hitting .393 while limiting the Lakers to a .061 hitting percentage. Despite efforts from Brice Hansen and Trinity Tatupu, the Lakers couldn't keep pace, dropping the set 15-25. LIU carried its momentum into the fourth set, winning 25-11 to seal the match. 

Notable Performances: 

• Andrea Zaric led Mercyhurst with 11 kills, hitting .103 and adding 12 digs. 

• Kaitlin Murphy contributed 10 kills and a block. 

• Alia Mastromatteo recorded a team-high 17 assists.

• Paige Miller anchored the defense with 11 digs. 

Up Next: 

The Lakers and Sharks will return to action tomorrow afternoon at 1 PM at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.