GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Messiah women's volleyball team dropped a hard-fought 3-1 (25-19, 25-21, 22-25, 26-24) match against the visiting Widener Pride on Wednesday evening on Jordan Court in Hitchcock Arena. The Falcons were unable to find their stride in the match, ending up on the wrong side of a number of closely contested points in the match. Feight and Lielbriedis had 19 kills each while Maddy Eby had 25 digs and Swartz tacked on 46 assists. 

The Falcons will be playing in the Juniata Tournament this weekend on Friday and Saturday in Huntingdon, Pa. They will start by playing Mary Washington on Friday, October 7, at 4:30PM.
 
Widener defeats Messiah 3-1 (25-19, 25-21, 22-25, 26-24)
The first set was relatively even and Messiah held a 15-14 advantage until Widener started to pull ahead. Messiah came within one at 18-17 before Widener rattled off six straight points to take a 24-17 lead. The Pride pulled out the set 25-19. Widener would pull ahead again 8-5 and later 13-8. The Falcons scored four in a row to come within one before Widener won six straight points yet again to take a 19-12 lead. Messiah came within three at 19-16 but Widener once again closed the door with a 25-21 second set win.

The Falcons got on the board in the third set after jumping out to an 8-3 lead. Holding an 13-7 lead, Widener went on yet another six point run to even the score at 13. The Pride held an 18-16 advantage before Messiah won five straight to take the lead at 21-18. The set would be tied at 22 before two kills and an ace gave the Falcons a set win at 25-22. The fourth set was the closest of them all and came down to the final points. Widener was ahead 16-11 until Messiah came within one at 16-15. The set would be tied at 21 and then Widener took a 24-22 lead. Messiah was able to tie it up at 24 but Widener prevailed and took the fourth set 26-24.  

Stats
Mackenzie Feight and Caitlin Lielbriedis led the Falcons offensively with 19 kills each. Defensively, Maddy Eby picked up a match-high 25 digs to lead four Falcons with double-digit digs on the night. Emma Swartz facilitated the offense with 46 assists in the match.
 
Next
The setback is Messiah's third loss of the season and moves then to 14-3 overall on the year. In the MAC Commonwealth, Messiah is in the thick of the playoff hunt with a 3-2 conference record.
 
Messiah will be back in action on Friday and Saturday when they head to Huntingdon, Pa. for the Juniata Tournament. The Falcons will take on Mary Washington to begin the Tournament on Friday evening at 4:30 p.m.