ERIE, Pa. — Mercyhurst (7-15, 5-4 NEC) defeated Stonehill (4-21, 3-8 NEC) in four sets on Saturday at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center, winning 25-18, 18-25, 25-17, 25-23. Mercyhurst's attack was led by a team total of 43 kills with a .275 hitting percentage.
Mercyhurst started with Roslyn Guerra and Andrea Zaric executing effective kills, narrowing an early Stonehill lead. Alia Mastromatteo facilitated well, contributing assists to maintain the scoreline close. A mid-period rally, featuring a standout service ace from Anna Logan, allowed the Lakers to establish a slight advantage.
With consistent scoring from Guerra and a crucial block by Payton Melin and Kaitlin Murphy, the Lakers extended their lead. Despite a brief Stonehill comeback attempt, the Lakers closed the set with a kill by Zaric and a service ace by Murphy, securing a 25-18 win in the opening set.
Mercyhurst entered the second set trailing and immediately faced a challenge as Stonehill gained momentum with a series of efficient plays. Stonehill capitalized on service errors and effective kills to extend their lead. Despite strong efforts from Guerra and Melin with key kills, the Lakers struggled to close the gap, trailing 13-9 midway through the set.
As the set progressed, Mercyhurst attempted a comeback with blocks from Mia Mattingly and Zaric, cutting the deficit to 14-11. However, Stonehill responded with a run of points. While Melin continued to deliver for the Lakers, Stonehill's consistent pressure resulted in a 25-18 set victory, leveling the overall score.
Mercyhurst opened the third set by trading early points with Stonehill. Kaitlin Murphy delivered an impactful kill to equalize at 1-1, setting the stage for a back-and-forth battle. Alyssa Krause's setting played a critical role in assisting multiple successful attacks, including a service ace that pushed Mercyhurst ahead 4-2.
As the set progressed, the Lakers extended their lead, capitalizing on a series of opponent errors and effective kills from Mattingly and Guerra. Defensive plays by Mattingly and Zaric contributed to crucial points, maintaining the momentum.
In the latter stages, Mercyhurst continued to find openings, with Julia Shepherd adding a service ace that brought the score to 22-14. Despite a brief Stonehill rally, the Lakers closed the set with a strong finish. Guerra and Mastromatteo secured the final points, sealing the set at 25-17 in favor of Mercyhurst.
Mercyhurst opened the fourth set with an early point from Anna Logan, setting the stage for a closely contested set. However, Stonehill quickly responded, building a 5-1 lead with a series of successful plays, including a service ace. The Lakers rallied back with a strong block from Mattingly and a kill from Mattingly to narrow the gap, but Stonehill continued to maintain a slim advantage.
Midway through the set, Mercyhurst mounted a comeback, capitalizing on Stonehill's errors and effective kills by Murphy and Zaric, eventually leveling the score at 17-17. The home team then seized momentum, with critical points from Zaric and a setting error by Stonehill, pushing the Lakers ahead 22-18.
As the set drew to a close, Stonehill tightened the score to 24-23, but Mercyhurst held firm. A decisive kill by Shepherd from an assist by Mastromatteo secured the set with a 25-23 victory, closing the match on a strong note.
Mattingly led the team in blocking with a total of five blocks, including one solo block and four block assists, contributing significantly to the defensive effort. Guerra posted a strong attacking performance with 10 kills on 18 attempts, achieving a hitting percentage of .444. Zaric contributed offensively with nine kills and added a service ace to her performance. Mastromatteo facilitated the team's offense by recording 14 assists, while also contributing six digs defensively.
Looking ahead, Mercyhurst will host St. Francis in Erie, Pa., on October 29 at 6 p.m.
