GRANTHAM, Pa. - The Falcons took down the Pride in three hard fought sets (26-24, 30-28, 25-23) tonight on Jordan Court. Messiah registered 51 kills as a team with Natalie Marsch and Mary Underman leading the way, both with 12 of their own. On the defensive side, Amanda Dahlman led the team with 15 digs while Natalie Marsch and Heston Cowoski chimed in for 11 each. Messiah advances to 9-7 (2-2) on the season and will compete in the Franklin & Marshall Tournament on Sept. 28 and Sept. 29 against Stockton University, Bethany College, and Franklin & Marshall. 

How It Happened
A kill and a service ace from Natalie Marsch put the Falcons up 2-0 to start the first game but the set proved to be a battle as the game was tied on nine separate occasions. The Pride rallied to put the pressure on the Falcons to keep up. Messiah did just that as the team collected 20 kills throughout the set while swinging at a .306 clip, their highest of the night. After Widener took a 17-14 lead, the Falcons made a small rally to force a timeout with kills from Natalie Marsch, Kate Preudhomme, and Ellen Musselman. With a kill from Marsch tying the game 18-18, the Pride registered two kills and an ace that forced Messiah to take a timeout. With the set remaining close, Amanda Dahlman registered a kill that would help spark the Falcons to win the set 26-24.
 
In the second set, both teams swung at a .140 clip as they battled it out, with Messiah holding the advantage in kills with 16 to Widener's 15. Messiah started out with momentum on their side with two errors on the Pride and a kill from Kate Preudhomme giving Messiah the 3-1 lead. A strong attack from Widener would even things out and put the score at 5-5. The Falcons forced Widener to take a timeout after making a 3-0 run that started with a kill from Hannah Berger. With the score at 10-7, Messiah made a strong attacking charge and held the advantage over the Pride until Widener fought back to make the score 24-23. The last 11 points of the match were home to five tied scores and two lead changes with Messiah earning the victory with attacking help from Natalie Marsch, Mary Underman, Kate Preudhomme and Hannah Berger.
 
The third set started out in Widener's favor as the Pride held the lead at 3-1 and eventually 6-3 before the Falcons rallied with kills from Natalie Marsch, Ellen Musselman, and Mary Underman to force Widener to take a timeout with the score at 9-7. Out of the timeout, Messiah collected kills from Hannah Berger and Natalie Marsch that expanded their lead but Widener utilized three errors from the Falcons and a kill to take the lead 12-11. The Falcons and Pride would trade the lead nine times until making their way to 22-21, in favor of Widener, causing Messiah to take a timeout. An attack error on the Pride evened things at 22-22 before Widener would earn a kill to take the lead again. The Falcons would end the scoring for the Pride for the night as they collected kills from Ellen Musselman and Lanae Hunsberger to end the game 25-23. 
 
In The Box Score 
A collective defensive effort from the Falcons was highlighted by Amanda Dahlman (15), Natalie Marsch (11), and Heston Cowoski (11), as the trio all accumulated double-digit kills through the three sets. Messiah registered 51 kills on the night with 21 of those assisted by Heston Cowowski and 17 of them assisted by Katie Wilcox. 
 
What's Up Next
The Falcons will make their way to Lancaster, Pa as they compete in the Franklin & Marshall Tournament on Sept. 28 and Sept. 29. They will face off against Stockton University on Friday at 7:00 p.m. and will compete against Bethany College at 12:30 p.m. and Franklin and Marshall at 3:00 p.m.