ERIE, Pa. — Mercyhurst University (2-12, 0-1 NEC) fell to FDU(7-7, 1-0 NEC) in straight sets on Friday night at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center. FDU claimed the victory with scores of 25-21, 25-20, and 25-21.

The match commenced with the Lakers and FDU exchanging early points, but FDU edged ahead to a 5-2 lead after capitalizing on a service ace and a kill. The Lakers responded with Andrea Zaric and Alyssa Krause contributing to even the score at 6-6, after several FDU attack errors and a service ace from Krause.

The middle of the set remained closely contested, with both teams trading points leading to a 12-12 tie. The Lakers briefly pulled ahead 11-8 with back-to-back service aces from Sarah Barnum. However, FDU regained momentum with a series of kills and errors from the Lakers, reaching a 20-18 lead.

As the set drew to a close, FDU maintained their advantage despite efforts from the Lakers, including kills from Payton Melin and Julia Shepherd. FDU capitalized on the Lakers' errors to secure a 25-21 victory in the first set.

The Lakers began the second set with a brief exchange of points, highlighted by Shepherd's kill set up by Alia Mastromatteo. The home team gained momentum with a service ace from Krause and a block from Kaitlin Murphy and Shepherd, leveling the score at 5-5.

Despite the Lakers' efforts, FDU responded with a series of successful plays, extending their lead to 19-13 with a combination of kills and a service ace. However, the Lakers' resilience was evident as they trimmed the deficit with contributions from Zaric and Melin, narrowing the gap to 21-16.

In the closing stages, the Lakers showed determination, with Mia Mattingly and Melin contributing key points. Ultimately, FDU secured the set with a 25-20 win, closing out the period with a service error from the Lakers.

The third set began with FDU establishing early momentum, taking a 4-1 lead. The Lakers responded with kills from Zaric and Shepherd to narrow the gap. Despite a service error, the team maintained pressure, cutting the deficit to 9-6 with a block by Barnum and Shepherd.

The set saw FDU extend their lead to 16-11, capitalizing on a few attack errors by the Lakers. However, the Lakers fought back with a series of points, including a key block from Melin, to bring the score to 20-17. Shepherd and Madison Miner contributed crucial kills, keeping the game within reach at 23-21.

Melin led the Lakers with eight kills and added three total blocks, significantly contributing to the team's efforts. Mastromatteo was key in setting, recording 12 assists and adding six digs. Krause provided versatility with 14 assists and two aces across the match. Zaric supported the team's defense with eight digs while also posting seven kills.

Looking ahead, the Green and Blue will face FDU at home. The match is set for Saturday, Sept. 27, at 1 p.m. in Erie, Pa.