GRANTHAM, Pa. - Messiah lost their first match of the season Friday night, falling 3-0 (25-17, 28-26, 25-18) to visiting No. 2 Calvin University. Messiah was led by the duo of Lanae Hunsberger and Kate Preudhomme, who both recorded seven kills for the Falcons. After the loss, Messiah jumps right back into action tomorrow morning at 10:00 a.m. when they take on Cabrini University before ending the Messiah Invitational against Christopher Newport at 4:00 p.m.

Messiah Falls Behind Early
On a chilly night in south-central Pennsylvania, it was rocking inside Hitchcock Arena for the showdown between the undefeated Messiah Falcons and last-year's national runner-up, the Calvin Knights. The Falcons got the first point of the night off a Lanae Hunsberger kill to put Messiah up 1-0.

Calvin then settled in and went on a 6-0 run to grab the momentum in the game. Sarah DeVries got two kills during the run for the Knights. Messiah then went on an 8-4 run to get to within one before Calvin answered right back with a 7-1 run of their own to make the score 17-10 Calvin. Messiah continued to fight back, going on a 3-0 run that was capped off by a huge Kristen Seibert ace. With the score at 17-13, Calvin was able to hold off the Falcons and take set one by a score of 25-17.

Falcons Show Moxie In Electric Atmosphere
Calvin used four Kelsey Smith kills to jump out to a 17-8 lead in game two. This was when Messiah began to roar back in the set, something they did throughout the whole match. The Falcons used two Rachel Garratt kills to go on a 5-2 run and get back to within six at 19-13. The Knights rattled off two points to make it 21-13 before Messiah got the whole arena behind them.

They stormed back in the set with a 7-1 run to make the score 22-20 and knock Calvin back on their heels. The momentum continued and Kate Preudhomme brought Hitchcock Arena into a frenzy after a huge kill to give Messiah their first lead since the first point of the match at 23-22. The Falcons had the crowd on the edge of their seats from this point on in the set. The two teams began to trade points and Messiah took a brief lead at 26-25. Calvin then went on a 3-0 run to send the Falcons to a heartbreaking 28-26 set-two loss.

The Knights held on to the momentum as they grabbed a quick 8-2 lead in game three. Messiah got to within three at 20-17, but Calvin wasn't going to let the Falcons get back into this one. The Knights took set three by a score of 25-18 and won the match 3-0.

What's Up Next?
After their first blemish of the season, Messiah will look to finish strong in the Messiah Invitational tomorrow when they take on Cabrini University at 10:00 a.m. and Christopher Newport at 4:00 p.m.