GRANTHAM, PA. –  On Saturday afternoon, the Messiah women's volleyball team split a pair of thrilling matches at home, defeating Haverford College 3-2 (25-15, 25-22, 24-26, 18-25, 15-12). Than dropping a five set match 3-2 (25-18, 20-25, 25-22, 27-29, 15-6) against Virginia Wesleyan. In match one, the Falcons were led by Sarah Hart with 17 kills, while Chayney Barnhart (15) and Cassidy Dell (13) provided big points for Messiah. Both Emma Swartz and Dell finished the match with 26 assists each, combining for 52 of the 58 total assists. In match two, Hart again led the team with 15 kills, while Katie Quesenberry (11) and Dell (9) both provide more scoring for the Falcons. Dell would rack up 22 assists to lead the team, with Caitlin Lielbriedis tallied 20 digs. 
 
Up Next: The Falcons will travel to Elizabethtown College Tuesday, September 10th.
 
Messiah defeats Haverford 3-2 (25-15, 25-22, 24-26, 18-25, 15-12)
Set One:
The opening set had a fast start to it as both teams traded points early on. Heading into the midway point Chayney Barnhart, Cassidy Dell, and Sarah Hart led the Falcons to an 10-9 lead. Messiah continued to find a rhythm, opening a 16-11 lead over the Fords. As the set continued, the Falcons kept their foot on the gas scoring nine of the last 14 points to win the set 25-16.
 
Set Two:
The second set continued the trend of fast starts. The Fords offense had a response for the Falcons, holding a 12-7 lead heading into the midway point of the set. Cynthia Boller picked up the slack for the Falcons scoring three of their next four points to cut the deficit to 15-11. Following a couple of Ford points, Messiah would go on to score 10 of the next 11 to take an 21-18 lead. The Falcons would go on to hold the fords, winning the set 25-22.
 
Set Three:
Knowing the Fords needed a win, Haverford continued to scratch and claw finding themselves up 13-11 early on. Barnhart and Dell provided the offense for the Falcons over the next couple of possessions cutting the Ford lead to 19-17. Messiah would go on a late run, tying the set up at 24-24, looking to close out the match. However, the Fords would sneak away with an 26-24 victory.
 
Set Four:
The momentum shifted in favor of the Fords. The Falcons quickly found themselves trailing 8-0. Following a Dell kill, Messiah would score the next five points to cut the deficit to 8-6. Following a couple of point exchanges, the Falcons led 13-12. However, the tide would again shift with the Fords opening a 19-12 lead. From that point on the Falcons would not recover, as Haverford secured a 25-18 win to force a fifth set.
 
Fifth Set:
To begin the fifth set, the Falcons took advantage of a couple Katie Quesenberry kills to grab an early 4-2 lead. After a Ford point, Messiah would score the next four points, taking advantage of multiple Ford errors to lead 8-3. Haverford fought hard, even cutting the deficit to 14-12. However, it would not be enough as Dell closed out the set 15-12 with a kill, prevailing the Falcons in five sets.
 
 Virginia Wesleyan defeated Messiah 3-2 (25-18, 20-25, 25-22, 27-29, 15-6) 
Set One:
The Marlins came out swinging in the final match of the day Following a couple of points, the Falcons looked up and found themselves down 10-5. Barnhart, Quesenberry, and a couple attack errors allowed the Falcons to chip away at the lead trailing 12-9. The Marlins never wavered, continuing to score points expanding their lead to 19-12. The Falcons responded well, scoring six of the next eight points, cutting the lead to 21-18. However, the Marlins closed out the set strong taking it by a score of 25-18.
 
Set Two:
Both teams battled in the second set, with the Falcons holding on to an 10-8 lead. Dell, Quesenberry, and Weldon provided some valuable points as the Falcons led 17-14 through the midway point. Messiah continued to hold on to that lead despite a few Ford runs, closing the set scoring eight straight points to win 25-20.
 
Set Three:
The Marlins responded well after the loss, opening a 6-2 lead early on. The Falcons responded cutting the lead at 11-9. As both teams battled back and forth, the Marlins were determined to hold on to that lead with the score at 18-16. However, a late push from the Marlins put the set out of reach, taking the set 25-22.
 
Set Four:
In what was the most exciting set of the match, the Falcons scored consistently to begin the set, holding on to an 10-6 lead. Following an exchange of four point runs from both teams the Falcons led 14-10. Hart and Quesenberry continued to provide the offense for Messiah. However, the Marlins would go on another run of their own to regain an 15-14 advantage. Following a Quesenberry kill, the Falcons would score six of the next seven to take an 21-16 lead. As both teams traded runs throughout the remainder of the match, the Falcons persevered and forced a fifth set by winning 29-27.
 
Fifth Set:
Tied at 2-2, the Marlins responded well opening a 6-3 lead early. Hart kept up the offense, but it wasn't enough as the Marlins continued to hold off the Falcons, leading 11-5 late in the set. Messiah would not rally, as Virginia Wesleyan went on to win 15-6 and escape Grantham with a 3-2 match win.
 
What's Up Next:
The Falcons will travel to Elizabethtown College to take on the Blue Jays Tuesday, September 10 at 7:00p.m.