Lancaster, PA – Messiah women's volleyball defeated Lancaster Bible College on the road tonight in a 3-0 sweep (25-16, 25-13, 25-22). Jane Underman led the team with 13 kills and Taylor Hook added 10 of her own and finished with a .474 attack percentage. Jessica Zellers had four service aces while Emily Zellers recorded 13 digs in the win. Jennifer Rusling dished out a team-high 36 assists to help the Falcons improve to 15-2 on the season.
 
Messiah dominated the first set tallying more kills (14-7) and had a higher attack percentage (.219-.000) than Lancaster Bible.
 
The Falcons jumped to an early 6-1 lead scoring six-straight points off of kills by Mary Underman, Hannah Baumer, and four Lancaster Bible errors. With the Falcons leading 11-7 they scored three unanswered points off two kills and a Charger error to extend the lead 14-7.
 
Later in the set Messiah held the 19-12 advantage and tallied four consecutive points to go up 23-12. An error by Lancaster Bible and a kill from Taylor Hook started the scoring streak while a kill from Hook and service ace by Jessica Zellers finished it.
 
The Chargers answered with three-straight points of their own to cut the lead 23-15 but it wasn't enough as the Falcons went on to win set one 25-16
 
Messiah continued their momentum into the second set finishing with 11 kills, a .231 attack percentage, and tallied seven service aces in the second set.
 
The second set started much like the first with the Falcons getting out to an early 6-1 lead. Emily Buckwalter served up three consecutive service aces to help put together the scoring run. With Messiah leading 6-2 they scored four-straight points off two kill from Hannah Baumer, a service ace from Emily Zellers, and a kill from Taylor Hook to extend their lead 10-2.
 
The Chargers slowly chipped away to come within five 16-11 but the Falcons put together another scoring run, this time tallying seven-straight points to take a double-digit lead 23-11. In that scoring run Jessica Zellers recorded three-straight service aces while Kristen Douglas, Taylor Hook, and Jennifer Rusling all hammered down kills.
 
Lancaster Bible recorded two more points in the set but with the score 24-13 Jane Underman pounded down a kill to earn Messiah the set two victory 25-13.
 
The third and final set proved to be the most competitive of the night but Messiah came out on top winning 25-22.
 
With the scored tied early at nine the Falcons tallied four-straight points off a kill by Jennifer Rusling and three consecutive kills by Jane Underman to take a 13-9 lead.  The Falcons were ahead 17-15 but the Chargers scored three unanswered points off two kills and a Messiah error to go up 18-17.
 
Messiah responded with kill from Kristen Douglas and Taylor Hook to regain control 19-18 but once again the Chargers hammered down a kill and a service ace to lead 20-19.
 
With the score 23-22 in Messiah's favor a kill and service ace by Jane Underman sealed the set three and match win for the Falcons. Messiah finished with 41 team kills and 10 service aces, their second-highest match total of the season, in tonight's win.
 
The Falcons will be back in action this weekend when they travel to Stevenson University this Saturday for the MAC Crossover.  They play No. 13 Eastern University at 12:00 p.m. and finish the day with a match against DeSales University at 2:00 p.m. in Owings Mills, MD.