LANCASTER, PA. – On Thursday night, the Messiah women's volleyball team hands Lancaster Bible College their first loss of the season with a hard fought five-set match. The Falcons lost the first two sets by a score of 23-25 and 23-25. The Falcons continued to fight and won the next two sets by a score of 26-24 and 25-23. In the final set Messiah and LBC continued to stay close, until the Falcons pulled away in the end to win the set, 15-12.  Sarah Hart dominated at the net finishing with 20 kills while teammates Chayney Barnhart (12) and Katie Quesenberry (10) provided valuable points for the Falcons. Emma Swartz collected 27 assists and 14 digs, with Caitlin Lielbriedis tallying up an astounding 35 digs.
 
Up Next: The Falcons will come home for the first time all year to host Haverford and Virginia Wesleyan on Saturday September 7 at 11:00a.m.
 

Set One:
From the very beginning, both teams found themselves in a competitive contest. As teams traded points early on, the Falcons and the Chargers were tied at 10-10. However, the Chargers took advantage of a 4-1 run to take a 15-11 lead through the set's midway point. Sarah Hart would have something to say, scoring the next three points for Messiah to cut the lead to 15-14. Following a couple of exchanges from both teams, the Falcons were down 22-21 heading into the final stretch of the opening set. The Chargers, however, scored three of the last four points to take the set 25-23. 
 
Set Two:
Messiah wanted to get a rhythm early down one set, taking a 5-3 lead with kills from Chayney Barnhart and Hart. Continuing to take advantage of multiple Charger errors, the Falcons held a 10-5 lead. However, Lancaster Bible responded with a run of their own by scoring the next seven points to regain a 12-10 lead. After weathering the storm, Messiah continued to battle as both teams exchanged small runs with the Falcons leading 18-17 late in the set. What seemed to be a momentum shift, the Chargers did not go away, scoring six of the next seven to take a 23-19 advantage. Caitlin Lielbriedis and Hart would score late points for Messiah, but it would not be enough as the Chargers would take yet another set 25-23. 
 
Set Three:
Down two sets, Messiah needed to win a do-or-die third set. However, the Chargers did not waiver opening an early 6-2 lead. Messiah would capitalize off multiple Charger errors, to bring themselves back into the set, gaining an 11-9 lead. Over the next stretch of points, the Falcons got contributions from Katie Quesenberry, Hart, Cassidy Dell, and Barnhart as they held on to a 20-14 advantage. Despite a late run from the Chargers tying the set up at 22-22, the Falcons would close out the set with kills from Dell and Hart to win the Falcons' first set 26-24. 
 
Set Four:
Looking to shift the tide in the match Barnhart, Dell, Anna Weldon, and Emma Swartz all scored early in the set as the Falcons held a 9-7 lead. Lancaster Bible would respond with four straight points to gain an 11-9 advantage. However, Messiah went on to score seven of the next eight, recapturing a 16-12 lead. Following a couple of exchanges, the Chargers found themselves down 21-20 attempting to rally and close out the match. The Falcons though had other plans and would finish the set strong to secure a fifth set, winning 25-23. 
 
Fifth Set: 
In the final set of the match, both teams stuck to the competitive trend with the Falcons clinging on to an 5-4 lead. Following a kill from Barnhart and a Charger error, Messiah took an 7-4 lead in the midway point of the set. The Chargers however rallied to score five of the next six to take a hold of a 9-8 lead. Over the next three points, both teams exchanged kills. Following a Quesenberry point, the Falcons would cap off the set with a 7-4 run, winning the set 15-12 and the match 3-2. 
 
What's Up Next:
The Falcons will host their home opener welcoming both Haverford College and Virginia Wesleyan Saturday, September 7th.