GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Messiah women's volleyball team split day two of the Messiah Invitational, losing to Gettysburg in four sets, and sweeping the Profs. With the split Messiah ended the Invitational 1-2 and improve to 9-4 on the season. 
 
Chayney Barnhart led the Falcons with an impressive 34 kills on the weekend, while Emma Swartz led the Falcons with 66 assists to end the Messiah Invitational.
 
Gettysburg defeats Messiah - 3-1 (27-25, 13-25, 25-10, 25-23)
Both teams opened set one strong, with neither squad able to gain a larger lead than one. Heading into the midway point the score was knotted at 15 a piece. Sarah Hart, Cassidy Dell, and Chayney Barnhart led the way for the falcons through that point. The match continued to be an even match, as both teams were not giving much ground. The Falcons would manage to slowly break away, extending a five-point lead, sitting at 22-17 needing just three points to take the opening set. But the Bullets had other plans, creeping back into the game, Gettysburg would pull away late to take set one, 27-25. 
 
Heading into set two, down 1-0 in the match, the Falcons would come out strong jumping to a quick 3-1 lead. However, the Bullets would continue to battle and both teams would begin to trade points up until the 8-8 point. From that moment on it would be all Messiah, the 
Falcons began to pull away scoring points in bunches. Mackenzie Feight, Hart, and Dell would all contribute as the Falcons opened a 21-9 lead. Gettysburg managed to score some points late, but it would not be enough as Messiah took the set 25-13 to tie the match at 1-1. 
 
The third set was not kind to the Falcons, as the Bullets quickly jumped to a 10-3 lead. The Falcons would have small runs throughout the remainder of the match, getting points from Feight, Barnhart, Anna Weldon, and Dell. However, it would not be enough as the Bullets dominated from start to finish taking the third set 25-10.
 
With Messiah needing to take two sets to win the match, the Falcons would begin the fourth set strong, jumping out to an early 7-1 lead. The Falcons looked to bounce back strong, but the Bullets had other plans. Gettysburg would continue to claw their way back into the set tying the set at nine a piece. Two points later and the Bullets would find themselves up 11-9, however, Messiah did not go away. From that point on both teams would trade points, heading into the midway point the score was knotted at 16. Following a couple long rallies the Bullets found themselves up 21-19. However, a smart timeout taken by Messiah coach Holly Motheral, the Falcons would score the next two points, tying the set at 21-21. However, the Bullets managed to pull away late scoring four out of the last six points to win the set 25-23 and the match 3-1. 
 
Whats Up Next
The Falcons will face the Rowan Profs in their final match of the Messiah Invitational. Start time is set for 5:00 p.m.

Messiah defeats the Profs 3-0 (25-22, 25-23, 25-17)
The Falcons quickly fell behind, as the Profs took an early 7-2 lead. However, the Falcons would not go away, the Falcons would slowly chip away at the Rowan lead making it a 10-10 game. Following a kill from Chayney Barnhart, a Profs error, and two straight aces from Emma Swartz the Falcons found themselves up 14-10. Rowen would not go away, beginning the chip away at the Messiah lead, however the Falcons had other ideas. Following a couple point exchanges, Messiah would grow their lead to 20-13, but the Profs would not go away. Five straight points from Rowan and the score was 20-18. The profs run would come to an end, as the Falcons managed to escape set one with a 25-22 win. Sarah Hart, Barnhart, and Mackenzie Feight led the way for the flacons in points during the first set.
 
The Falcons began set two jumping out to a quick 11-5 lead, however the Profs would come back scoring to cut the lead to 12-8. The Falcons would continue to apply pressure, getting a kill from Barnhart, and multiple Profs errors extending the Messiah lead to 14-8. Just as the Profs would start to gain some ground, the Falcons had other plans, continuing to score when needed most. Kills from Barnhart, Feight, and two Profs error the score would sit at 18-14. However, Rowen never wavered, as the Profs began to creep back into the set tying the game at 23 a piece. Back-to-back kills from Dell, and Feight would end the set in Messiahs' favor 25-23.
 
Heading into set three up two sets to one, the Falcons would come out strong, jumping to an early 9-5 lead. Messiah would not slow down, as the Falcons extended their lead to 16-8. Barnhart, Feight, Hart, and Lielbriedis all would score during the stretch. The Profs would find points late, but it was all Messiah for the remainder of the set. Stellar defense from the Falcons, to go along with the continued domination from Feight, Hart, and Barnhart led Messiah to take the set 25-17. With the 3-0 (25-22, 25-23, 25-17) sweep over the Profs, Messiah ends the Invitational 1-2 overall, and improves to 9-4 on the season. 
 
Whats Up Next
Messiah will be back at home Tuesday, Sept 26 against Stevenson University, first serve is set for 7:00 p.m.