READING, Pa. – The Falcons took down the Golden Wolves in three sets (25-12, 26-24, 25-14) behind a trio of Falcons (Marsch, Dahlman, Cowoski) collecting three or more aces and Natalie Marsch's 10 kills. Lanae Hunsberger registered nine kills with Hannah Berger following closely behind with seven of her own. 
 
How It Happened
In the first set, the Falcons started strong, with an 11-4 run that would help them maintain a healthy advantage over Alvernia. That 11-4 run was home to three-straight service aces from Heston Cowoski which was followed by a kill from Lanae Hunsberger that forced the Golden Wolves to talk it over. Following the Alvernia timeout, the Golden Wolves collected two points of their own but Messiah kept the heavy pressure on with kills from Lanae Hunsberger, Natalie Marsch, Hannah Berger, and a service ace from Jessica Zellers. Alvernia was able to make a 3-0 run late in the set but Messiah collected two service aces from Natalie Marsch and kills from Lanae Hunsberger and Payton Manwaring to take the set 25-12.
 
The second set was a closer battle but the Falcons stayed on top with kills from Natalie Marsch, Kate Preudhomme, Hannah Berger, Lanae Hunsberger, and Mary Underman. This set was very much so a back and forth battle as Alvernia worked to tie the game at 9-9 and 10-10 before Messiah went on a 7-2 run with kills from Preudhomme, Marsch, Hunsberger, Berger, and Underman again. Although Messiah held the 17-12 lead, the Golden Wolves made a big push back into the game that forced Messiah to call a timeout. After the timeout, Natalie Marsch collected a kill and Alvernia gave up two errors, giving Messiah a 21-17 lead. It wasn't over yet as Alvernia forced a late lead change, holding the advantage 24-23 but the Falcons persevered and took the second set 26-24.
 
The third set started with an attack error on the Golden Wolves that put Messiah on top. Messiah advanced their lead to 8-3, utilizing four Alvernia errors and kills from Ellen Musselman, Logan Wolfe, and Lanae Hunsberger. The Golden Wolves gave up more errors that helped the Falcons progress to a 13-7 lead. Hannah Berger and Lanae Hunsberger each collected a kill here to further Messiah's lead to 15-7. The Falcons had a few attack errors as Alvernia registered three kills that cut the Messiah lead to 17-13. Messiah put on heavy pressure with kills from Mary Underman and Lanae Hunsberger mixed with two service aces from Amanda Dahlman to take a 23-13 lead. A kill from Mary Underman and an Alvernia error would end the set 25-14.
 
In The Box Score
Natalie Marsch led the Falcons' attack, collecting 10 kills and four service aces, swinging at a .727 clip. Lanae Hunsberger followed closely behind with nine kills of her own. Heston Cowoski and Amanda Dahlman each registered three services aces. As a team, Messiah swung at a .345 clip. Katie Wilcox accumulated 19 assists while Heston Cowoski chimed in for 16 of her own. Amanda Dahlman led the team on the defensive side of things, accumulating almost half Messiah's digs with 14 of her own. 
 
What's Up Next
The Falcons will be in Ashland, Va. on Oct. 12th and 13th for the Randolph-Macon Quad-Match. They will face off against Juniata College on Friday at 5:00 p.m. and will play Washington and Lee University at 11:00 a.m. then take on Randolph-Macon College at 2:00 p.m.