Owings Mills, MD - Messiah women's volleyball was edged 3-2 (25-16, 25-16, 16-25, 19-25, 10-15) by conference foe Stevenson University for their first loss of the season. Messiah fell to 11-1 overall and 2-1 in the MAC Commonwealth with the loss.
 
The Falcons took the first set over the Mustangs by a 25-16 score. Messiah edged Stevenson in kills (14-7) and service aces (6-2) throughout the first set of the match. The set was competitive as the Falcons and Mustangs had eight ties and five lead changes during the first set.
 
Stevenson came out firing on all cylinders scoring the first six points of the set. The slow start by the Falcons didn't faze Messiah as they responded with eight unanswered points and took an 8-6 lead. Jane Underman collected three service aces, a kill, and Hannah Baumer and Kristen Douglas tallied kills as well during the eight point scoring streak.
 
Messiah steadily increased their lead during the first set of play and held a 19-16 lead. With a tight lead, Messiah crushed any hope the Mustangs had for a comeback by scoring six unanswered points for the set victory. Emily Zellers set up Hannah Baumer who delivered a kill for the set winning point.
 
The Falcons mirrored their first set victory by coming out victorious over the Mustangs 25-16. Messiah topped Stevenson in kills (12-10) and service aces (5-2), but committed more attack errors (4-2) during the second set of play.
 
Unlike the first set, the Falcons jumped out to an early 12-5 lead and immediately took control of the set. Stevenson worked their back into the set with six unanswered points. Kristen Brooks tallied two kills during the Mustang's six point scoring streak.
 
Stevenson kept inching their way towards the Falcon's lead but could never tie or take a lead over Messiah. In fact, the Falcons led during the entire second set of play.
 
The Falcons led 18-16 and finished the second set by scoring the final seven points. Kristen Douglas, Brooke Gallagher, and Taylor Hook tallied kills during the set winning scoring streak and Suzanne Harris laid down a service ace.
 
The Mustangs held off the Falcons by defeating Messiah 25-16 in the third set and avoided the sweep. Stevenson outplayed Messiah during the third set and held an early 12-5 lead. The Falcons couldn't overcome the deficit and Sara Bollinger tallied the final point of the set from a service ace.
 
Stevenson rode their momentum from their third set victory into the fourth set and defeated Messiah 25-19. The Mustangs topped the Falcons in kills (13-11) and service aces (2-1), but committed more attack errors (4-2) during the fourth set.
 
The Falcons played to an early 7-6 lead until Stevenson regained the lead and never gave it back. Messiah trailed 21-19 and was on the verge of a comeback until Stevenson scored four unanswered points and sealed the fourth set victory.
 
Stevenson completed the comeback and defeated Messiah 15-10 in the fifth and final set. The Mustangs were down two sets to none and won three straight sets to defeat the Falcons.
 
The score was tied at nine during the fifth set when Stevenson scored three unanswered points and pulled ahead of the Falcons 12-9. Messiah regained a point off a service error by Stevenson and closed in on the Mustangs with a 12-10 score.
 
The Mustangs finished the set and match with three straight points from two kills by Moriah Savage and a service error committed by the Falcons.
 
Jane Underman led the Falcons offensively with 19 kills while Emily Zellers led Messiah defensively by collecting 25 digs.
 
The Falcons will be back in action this Tuesday when they take on the Crusaders of Alvernia University in Brubaker Auditorium at 7:00 p.m.