FORT WAYNE, Ind. — The Mercyhurst Women's volleyball team opened up their play at the Purdue Fort Wayne Invitational, playing against Bellarmine and Purdue Fort Wayne. The Lakers dropped both of their matches..
 
Game One
 
The first set opened with the Lakers taking an early 2-0 lead, highlighted by a kill from Julia Shepherd assisted by Kaitlin Murphy at the start. However, Bellarmine quickly responded with a scoring streak, moving ahead 8-3 after a series of kills and blocks. Despite a strong effort from Roslyn Guerra, who contributed multiple kills throughout the set, the Lakers trailed for most of the set, culminating in a 25-16 victory for Bellarmine.
 
The second set began with the Lakers quickly responding to an early service ace by Bellarmine, as Kaitlin Murphy scored the first point for the Lakers off an assist from Alia Mastromatteo. Despite a strong block from Julia Shepherd and Murphy that narrowed the gap to 3-2, Bellarmine capitalized on a series of service aces and errors to extend their lead to 10-4. The Lakers fought back with contributions from Andrea Zaric and Julia Shepherd, narrowing the deficit to 21-16. However, Bellarmine managed to close out the set 25-17, making the Lakers trail two sets.
 
The third set began with the Lakers trailing early as Bellarmine took the first three points, Shepherd responded with a key kill at 1-3, set up by Mastromatteo, marking the start of a back-and-forth exchange. Despite a late rally by the Lakers, highlighted by Jessica Wilson's kill at 14-22 and a series of errors from Bellarmine that closed the gap to 22-15, Bellarmine finished the set with a 25-15 victory.
 
Shepherd led the Lakers with five kills and added one block assist across three sets. Mastromatteo contributed significantly with seven assists and collected six digs. Zaric posted five kills with a .417 hitting percentage, and Murphy recorded three kills and two total blocks.
 
Game Two
 
The first set began with Mercyhurst capitalizing on an early service error from Purdue Fort Wayne, quickly building a 3-0 lead thanks to Andrea Zaric's service ace. A back-and-forth battle ensued, highlighted by Julia Shepherd's three kills, each assisted by Alia Mastromatteo. Despite the Lakers efforts to regain momentum with a late kill by Shepherd at 24-20, Purdue Fort Wayne secured the set with a 25-20 victory, aided by a decisive service ace.
 
The Lakers began the second set with precise execution, quickly equalizing the score at 1-1 with a kill by Zaric from Mastromatteo. They took command midway through the set, as Sydney Forcht delivered back-to-back service aces to propel the Lakers to a 5-2 lead. Mastromatteo's playmaking skills were evident throughout, contributing multiple assists, including a crucial setup for Shepherd's kill that extended the lead to 16-11. Despite a late push from Purdue Fort Wayne, Roslyn Guerra's decisive kills, supported by Mastromatteo's consistent passing, secured a 25-19 finish for the Lakers in the second set.
 
The Lakers opened the third set with a strong start, as Kaitlin Murphy delivered two consecutive kills set up by Mastromatteo, helping the team secure an early 3-0 lead. Despite the initial momentum, Purdue Fort Wayne responded with a series of key plays, to reclaim the lead at 9-6. The Lakers continued to fight back with notable performances from Shepherd and Guerra, but Purdue Fort Wayne maintained their edge and eventually closed out the set 25-21.
 
The fourth set unfolded with Mercyhurst and Purdue Fort Wayne locked in a competitive exchange, marked by several lead changes and a tight score line. Shepherd and Murphy were instrumental for the Lakers, with Shepherd delivering multiple key kills including one at 26-26 to keep the team in contention. Despite trading points until the very end, the Lakers were edged out 35-33, with the final points decided by a kill from Purdue Fort Wayne.
 
Shepherd made a substantial impact with 16.5 points, including 14 kills and three total blocks over four sets. Mastromatteo facilitated the offense by recording 31 assists in her appearances. Trinity Tatupu showcased her efficiency by achieving a perfect 1.0 hitting percentage, converting her sole attack attempt into a point. Forcht contributed effectively from the service line with four aces across her matches.
 
Looking ahead, the Lakers will face Toledo on Saturday, Sept. 20, in Fort Wayne, Ind. The match begins at 1:30 p.m.