GRANTHAM, Pa. - The Messiah women's volleyball team earned a 3-0 (25-19, 25-15, 25-9) sweep over Hood College this evening. Lanae Hunsberger led the team with eight kills while Braedyn Gallagher had seven. Setter Jennifer Rusling dished out 28 assists and Jessica Zellers contributed 10 digs on defense. The Falcons finished with six team blocks and a .325 attack percentage on offense. This win improves Messiah to 7-11 overall and 3-1 in the MAC Commonwealth. They are back in action this Saturday hosting Marymount University and Susquehanna in a tri-match at home in Hitchcock Arena with the first game at 11:00 a.m.

The first set didn't come easy for Messiah as Hood put up a good fight and had the  lead early but errors were a factor as the Falcons committed just three to the Blazers nine in set one. With the score tied at eight, Messiah tallied four-straight points to take the lead 12-8. Jennifer Rusling contributed two service aces in the scoring run.
 
Later with the Falcons ahead 14-10, the Blazers scored three points to pull within one, but then Kate Preudhomme hammered down a kill to keep an edge 15-13. Messiah was able to keep a comfortable advantage the remainder of the set and even when Hood would score, the Falcons always had a response. With the score 24-19 in favor of the Falcons a final kill from Braedyn Gallagher earned them the set one win 25-19.
 
Messiah kept the momentum in the second set tallying double the kills (12-6) than Hood. With the score 5-3, three-straight kills by Kate Preudhomme, Braedyn Gallagher, and Mary Underman extended the Falcons' lead 8-3. Later in the set with Messiah a slight edge 13-12, a four-point scoring run increased the advantage 17-12. Then with the score 23-15, the Falcons finished off the second set by scoring two points off a kill by Jennifer Rusling and Hood error to win 25-15.
 
The third and final set was in total control by the Falcons as they went on to win by a dominating score of 25-9. They finished with an impressive .688 attack percentage and played errorless in the set. With the score tied early Messiah utilized a four-point scoring run to take a 6-2 lead. Mary Underman contributed two kills to aide the Falcons.
 
Later with Messiah leading 15-8 they increased their advantage by tallying four points off two kills by Kate Preudhomme, an ace by Amanda Dahlman, and a block by Mary Underman and Preduhomme to take a comfortable 19-8 lead. It was smooth sailing from then on out as the Falcons outscored the Blazers 6-1 to finish out the match and earn the sweep.