GETTYSBURG, PA. - The Messiah Women's Volleyball team finish the Gettysburg Classic splitting a pair of matches. The Falcons put together a strong performance in match one on day two of the Gettysburg Classic. The Falcons defeated Bridgewater College 3-0 (26-24, 25-17, 25-20) behind an impressive performance from Leah Youtzy and Chayney Barnhart with 10 kills each. In match two, Messiah battled but couldn't take down the Diplomats of Franklin & Marshall, losing all three sets (25-19, 27-25, 25-21). Chayney Barnhart led the team with seven kills while Emma Swartz tallied 13 assists in the match. 

Messiahs own Caitlin Lielbriedis was named all tournament team after a strong outing in all four games. Lielbriedis tallied a total of 14 service aces, seven assists, and 52 digs. 
 
Up Next: The Falcons will continue their road trip to Lancaster Bible College on Thursday, September 5th.
 
Game One: Messiah defeats Bridgewater College - 3-0 (26-24, 25-17, 25-20)
 
The Falcons had to come from behind in set one, as the Eagles took an early 6-2 lead. However, an 8-5 run gave the Falcons some life cutting the deficit to 11-10. Chayney Barnhart and Cassidy Dell led the way with five of the Falcons' eight points. The Eagles continued to play strong, going on a 6-1 run to extend their lead to 17-11. Messiah clawed their way back, taking advantage of a couple of Eagle errors to cut the lead to 21-20. Some more costly Eagle errors and kills from Leah Youtzy and Emma Swartz prevailed the Falcons to a 26-24 victory stealing set one. 
 
In set two it would be the Falcons continuing the momentum as they opened a 9-3 lead. Anna Weldon, Barnhart, and Youtzy continued to provide offense as Messiah held on to a 15-8 lead. Over the next 13 points, the Eagles chipped away at the Falcon lead pulling within 20-15. However, Sarah Hart, Barnhart, and Makenzie Adams closed out the set on a high note giving the Falcons a 25-17 win. 
 
Set three was highly competitive as both teams fought for a lead early on. The Falcons held on through the first stretch maintaining a one-point lead heading into the midway point of the set. Hart continued to dominate on the net as the Falcons extended their lead to 12-9. However, the tide would turn, with the Eagles going on a 6-3 run knotting the set at 15 a piece. Contributions from Adams and Barnhart allowed the Falcons to make a late run giving them a 21-18 advantage. Needing just four points to close out the match, Messiah's defense stiffened up, holding the Eagles to just two more points for the remainder of the set as the Falcons completed the sweep.
 
Game Two: Franklin & Marshall defeats Messiah - 3-0 (25-19, 27-25, 25-21)
 
The Falcons found themselves down early as the Diplomats jumped to an 5-1 lead. However, Messiah responded with an 4-0 run behind Sarah Hart's two kills to tie the set at 5-5. Both teams continued to trade points through the middle of the set, as the Diplomats held on to tan 12-10 advantage. A couple F&M errors later, the Falcons were able to knot up the set with an Anna Weldon kill tying it at 16-16. However, the Diplomats were determined and capitalized off key Falcon errors to take an 25-19 set one win. 
 
To begin set two the Falcons needed to start fast. They did just that, three kills from Chayney Barnhart, and a kill from Cassidy Dell provided the spark the Falcons needed to take an early 10-7 lead. Messiah continued to pour it on, extending their lead off an 7-3 run behind Dells two kills and multiple Diplomat errors to hold a 17-10 advantage. However, F&M responded well turning a 7-3 run of their own to cut the Falcon lead to 20-17. From that point on the tide would shift for the Falcons. Messiah continued to battle, but the Diplomats had an answer for every point with both teams tied at 23-23, F&M would finish strong and rally to win 27-25 and hold a 2-0 set lead.
 
In the third set the Diplomats continued to ride the momentum grabbing a 10-7 lead. Makenzie Adams, Anna Weldon, and Caitlin Lielbriedis all contributed early for the Falcons. However, the Falcons had no answer for the Diplomat offense as they continued to extend their lead to 17-11. Despite continued success from Weldon and points from Emma Swartz and Leah Youtzy, the Diplomats held on to an 21-14 advantage. The Falcons showed a lot of fight late, as they fought their way back into the set cutting the deficit to 22-20 behind points from Weldon, Swartz, and Dell. However, key errors late from the Falcons allowed the Diplomats to close out the match 25-21 to sweep the Falcons. 
 
What's Up next:
The Falcons will travel to Lancaster, Pa. to take on Lancaster Bible College on Thursday Sept 5th at 7:00 p.m.