GRANTHAM, Pa. – _­Hosting a tri-match with the Lebanon Valley Dutchmen and Rosemont Raves, the Messiah women's volleyball team started their day with a four-set victory over Lebanon Valley. In the nightcap, Messiah cruised past the Rosemont Ravens in straight sets, 3-0 (25-6, 25-12, 25-9). The Falcons nearly earned a straight-set sweep in their first match of the day, but a controversial call on match point in the third set went in favor of the Dutchmen and Messiah settled for the four-set victory by a 3-1 (25-18, 25-17, 26-28, 25-16) final.
 
With the two victories, the Falcons move to 11-5 on the season and will be back in action on Wednesday when they take on the Alvernia Golden Wolves on the road at 7:00 p.m.
 
Messiah defeats Lebanon Valley – 3-1 (25-18, 25-17, 26-28, 25-16)
The Falcons came out with a strong match to open the day, defeating the Dutchmen in four sets. The first set of the day was a tight one for a majority of the set, with Messiah holding a 14-13 lead midway through the set. After taking advantage of a Lebanon Valley attack error, the Falcons went on an 11-5 run to conclude the set. Messiah was led on the run by back-to-back Chayney Barnhart service aces, eventually claiming the set 25-18.
 
In the second set, Messiah took a little earlier lead, jumping out to a 10-5 cushion after a Barnhart kill. Lebanon Valley trimmed the lead to as few as three at 12-9, but that would be as close as they would get in the set. Messiah's steady play closed out the set with the Falcons taking the set 25-17 to build a 2-0 lead in the match.
 
It looked like the match was destined for a sweep after Messiah jumped out to an 8-1 lead in the third, but the Dutchmen battled back. A 7-1 Dutchmen run closed the set to a one-point Messiah lead at 9-8. From there, the set was a back-and-forth battle with Lebanon Valley eventually taking the lead at 25-24. Messiah countered with the next two points to take control at 26-25 and it looked like a Lebanon Valley attacking error ended the match, but the referee called a phantom touch on Messiah and the Dutchmen tied the set. A kill and a service ace later, Lebanon Valley claimed the set 28-26 to force a fourth set.
 
In the fourth it was all Messiah. The Falcons took an early 10-5 lead and never looked back, hitting .281 in the set against a .029 mark from the Dutchmen. Messiah claimed the set 25-16 and the match, 3-1.
 
Sarah Hart led the Falcons with 14 kills while Mackenzie Feight and Chayney Barnhart each picked up 11 in the match. Caitlin Lielbriedis led Messiah defensively with 17 digs and, as a team, Messiah picked up 10 blocks.
 
Messiah defeats Rosemont – 3-0 (25-6, 25-12, 25-9)
The Falcons controlled the entirety of the match against the Rosemont Ravens, cruising to the sweep. The Falcons used the match as a chance to empty the bench a bit, with 14 different players logging time on the floor. Messiah finished the match with a .269 hitting percentage while allowing just 27 Ravens' points in the match.
 
Messiah's defense held the Ravens to a -.092 hitting percentage in the match, while earning a dozen service aces. Mackenzie Feight picked up five service aces by herself while finishing with a team-high 11 digs and seven kills.
 
Emma Swartz led the team with 20 assists while Cassidy Dell finished with 16 helpers. The Falcons were able to share the offensive load with Feight, Sarah Hart, and Cynthia Boller finishing with a team-high seven kills.
 
What's Up Next
With a pair of victories on Saturday, Messiah improves to 11-5 on the season. The Falcons will be back in action on Wednesday when they travel to Reading to take on the Alvernia Golden Wolves in a conference match at 7:00 p.m.