GRANTHAM, Pa – The Messiah women's volleyball took down the Scranton Royals on Friday night winning 3-1 (25-23, 18-25, 25-18, 25-14). Mackenzie Feight led the Falcons with 16 kills while Kristen Seibert had 43 assists and Amanda Dahlman had a team high 19 digs. Messiah is back in action on Wednesday, October 20 when they face Eastern at home in Hitchcock Arena.
 
Messiah defeats Scranton 3-1
The Royals jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first set which prompted a Messiah timeout. Messiah responded winning seven of the next eight points to take a 7-5 lead. The set continued to be close and well contested with neither team gaining a sizable lead until the Falcons took a 21-18 lead late in the set. After a Scranton timeout, the Royals won two of three points to bring the score to 22-20 in favor of the Falcons. Another Scranton timeout later, the first set was tied at 22 which cued a Messiah timeout. A critical miscommunication that cost Messiah the first point after the timeout was quickly erased after the Falcons fought off numerous Scranton attacks, most notably the next to last point in the set to go up 24-23. The Falcons were on the ropes multiple times but had key saves to keep the point alive and finally put it away with a thunderous Mackenzie Feight kill. Feight ended the first set with her fifth kill to win the thrilling first set 25-23.
 
The second set was much like the first, well contested and close until midway through when Scranton won seven of eight points to take 17-13 lead. After a Messiah timeout, Scranton had a 5-3 advantage to take a 22-16 lead which led Messiah to take their second timeout of the set. Messiah won two of three points to cut the lead to 23-18. After a Scranton timeout, the Royals finished the set and won 25-18 to even the match score at 1-1.
 
The third set was close as well with Messiah holding an 11-7 lead. Messiah was up 13-10 before Scranton called a timeout. Messiah extended the lead to 18-13 and then a commanding 22-15 advantage. Messiah closed the set 25-18 to take a 2-1 set lead into the fourth set.
 
Messiah commanded the fourth set early, going up 14-7 and dominating the Royals early in the set. After a timeout, Scranton won two quick points but Messiah responded and took a 16-11 lead midway through the set. Five points later, Messiah held a 21-11 lead. The Falcons closed the set and the match with a 25-14 fourth set win.
 
Stats
Mackenzie Feight led the team in kills with 16 while Chayney Barnhart added 12 on the night. Tatum Oakley also had nine kills on the night.
 
Kristen Seibert had a team high 43 assists and tacked on 12 digs on the evening. Amanda Dahlman led the team with 19 digs while Mackenzie Feight and Hailey Miller added 16 and 15 digs respectively.
 
Up Next
The win brings the Falcons record to 14-8 overall and will face Eastern University on October 20 in Hitchcock Arena. The conference match starts at 7:00 PM and will be livestreamed on gomessiah.tv.