Grantham, PA - The Falcons of Messiah College conquered the Dutchmen of Lebanon Valley College 3-1 (25-23, 19-25, 25-15, 25-15) and advanced to the MAC Commonwealth Championship Final for the fifth straight season.

The first set of the night was the most competitive and the Falcons prevailed with a 25-23 victory. Although Lebanon Valley lost, the Dutchmen edged the Falcons in kills (15-14), attack percentage (.200-.132), and committed fewer errors (6-7).
 
Messiah used three sets of three point scoring streaks and four point scoring streak to edge Lebanon Valley. The Dutchmen led the Falcons 16-15 when Messiah used one of their three point scoring streaks to take an 18-16 lead.
 
The scoring streak was formed by a kill from Kristen Douglas, a kill by Taylor Hook, and a bad set committed by the Dutchmen. Messiah steadily increased their lead and held a 23-19 lead. The Dutchmen responded with three unanswered points and trailed the Falcons 23-22.
 
Messiah led 24-23 when a perfectly placed kill from Hannah Baumer sealed the first set victory for the Falcons.
 
After dropping the first set, the Dutchmen answered and defeated the Falcons by a 25-19 score. The Falcons topped the Dutchmen in kills (17-14), but Lebanon Valley accumulated a better attack percentage (.310-.239), and committed fewer errors (1-6).
 
Lebanon Valley jumped on the Falcons early in the second set with six unanswered point to take a 6-0 lead. The six point scoring streak was essential for the Dutchmen, as the Falcons couldn't dig themselves out of their early hole.
 
The third set was much different than the first and second as Messiah dominated Lebanon Valley by a 25-15 score. The Falcons topped the Dutchmen in kills (16-11), attack percentage (.289-.136), and committed fewer errors (3-5).
 
Both teams exchanged points at the beginning of the set and were notched at eight a piece. Tied at eight, Messiah tallied four unanswered points from a kill by Kristen Douglas, a service ace by Jane Underman, and two attack errors committed by the Dutchmen to take a 12-8 lead.
 
Messiah stayed on the attack and led Lebanon Valley 23-15 late in the set. With a comfortable lead, the Falcons finished the third set by tallying the final two points off a service error by the Dutchmen and a service ace from Emily Zellers.
 
The fourth and final set of the night was similar to the third with the Falcons earning a commanding 25-15 victory. The Falcons topped the Dutchmen in kills (15-8), attack percentage (.382-.077), and committed fewer errors (2-5).
 
The Falcons held a slim 10-7 lead when they strung together a five point scoring streak to take a sizeable 15-7 lead. The five unanswered points were formed by four kills from Jane Underman and a kill by Alyssa Vorbeck.
 
Messiah led 20-14 when they used a four point scoring streak to stretch their lead to 24-14. The scoring streak was created by a kill from Hannah Baumer, a kill by Kristen Douglas, a kill from Jane Underman, and an attack error committed by the Dutchmen. The Falcons tallied their final point of the match off a service error from Lebanon Valley.
 
Kristen Douglas led the Falcons offensively with 18 kills and Brooke Gallagher dished out an impressive 54 assists during the victory. Messiah had strong defensive performances from Emily Zellers (21 digs) and Alyssa Vorbeck (five blocks).
 
The Falcons will be back in action this Saturday when they travel to Owings Mills, Md. and take on the Mustangs of Stevenson University in the MAC Commonwealth Championship Final for the fourth straight season.