GETTYSBURG, Pa. – The Messiah University Women's Volleyball team opened the 2025 Messiah Invitational with a 3-1 loss to Cortland on Friday afternoon. Cortland was dominant in the first set, earning the 25-8 victory. After an early 9-1 lead, Messiah took set two with a score of 26-24. Cortland took set three 25-19 before claiming the fourth set 25-15 to earn a 3-1 match win. Makenzie Adams led the Falcons with 14 kills while Sydney Wolfe and Katie Quesenberry each added 6. Cassidy Dell dished out 27 assists and added 13 digs while Erin Eby had 16 digs.

The Falcons return to action on Saturday, September 20, at 11:00 a.m. against Oberlin College on Jordan Court in Hitchcock Arena.

Set One
Cortland took an early 4-3 lead with Makenzie Adams picking up a kill for the Falcons. Adams notched a second kill after three points for the Red Dragons to bring the score to 7-4 in favor of Cortland. The Red Dragons then extended their lead to 12-4 with five straight points. After a Falcons timeout, Cortland added three before a service error put control back with the Falcons. The teams traded points before six straight kills for the Red Dragons gave them a 22-6 lead. A service error for the Red Dragons and a kill from Adams were the final points for the Falcons as Cortland took set one 25-8.

Set Two
Messiah opened set two with a kill by Sydney Wolfe from Cassidy Dell before a pair of errors from the Red Dragons. After an attack error, Messiah scored four straight, including kills from Makenzie Adams, Cassidy Dell, and Katie Quesenberry to take a 7-1 lead. Following a Cortland timeout, a pair of attack errors extended the Messiah lead to 9-1. The teams traded kills before Cortland tallied three more to cut the Messiah lead to 10-5. Cortland brought the score to a 12-8 lead for Messiah, forcing a Falcons' timeout. Cynthia Boller scored a pair of kills and Leah Youtzy added one as Messiah extended the lead to 17-9. Cortland claimed seven of the next eight points to cut the Falcon lead to two at 18-16, causing Messiah to take their second timeout. Makenzie Adams and Katie Quesenberry picked up kills as Messiah held a slight advantage at 21-20. After trading points, Leah Youtzy and Sydney Wolfe combined for a block, taking a 24-22 lead and forcing a Cortland timeout. After Cortland tied the match at 24-24, Cassidy Dell found Sydney Wolfe for a kill and a Cortland error gave Messiah the 26-24 set two victory to tie the match at 1-1

Set Three
The Falcons and Red Dragons traded the first seven points back-and-forth with Messiah taking a 4-3 lead behind an opening block from Leah Youtzy, a kill from Sydney Wolfe, and a pair of kills from Makenzie Adams. After trading errors, Cassidy Dell found Cynthia Boller for a kill. A pair of errors for the Red Dragons was followed by a kill for Leah Youtzy on an overpass to give the Falcons the 9-4 lead, forcing a Cortland timeout. After an attack error by the Red Dragons, Cortland claimed five of the next six points to cut the deficit to two with an 11-9 lead for Messiah. A block by Sydney Wolfe and Cassidy Dell followed by a kill for Erin Eby took the lead back to four. The Red Dragons then took a 15-14 lead, scoring six of the next seven, causing a Messiah timeout. The teams traded points, including a kill for Katie Quesenberry before Cortland took a 19-16 lead, before Messiah took their second timeout. Out of the timeout, the Red Dragons claimed six of the next nine to take the set 25-19 and take a 2-1 lead in the match.

Set Four
Messiah took a quick 2-0 lead after a pair of kills for Makenzie Adams from Cassidy Dell. Katie Quesenberry added a kill before the Red Dragons took a 4-3 lead. Adams notched another kill before four points from Cortland led to an 8-5 Cortland lead and a timeout from Messiah. Out of the break, the Red Dragons scored four straight, forcing the second timeout for Messiah. The teams traded points before Leah Youtzy and Sydney Wolfe each collected kills and Youtzy added a block. Kills by Makenzie Adams and Sydney Wolfe got kills as Cortland took a 16-12 lead. Katie Quesenberry picked up a pair of kills as the Red Dragons held a 22-15 lead. The Red Dragons then scored eight straight to win the set 25-15, and take the match 4-1.

Stats
Makenzie Adams led the Falcons with 14 kills while Sydney Wolfe and Katie Quesenberry each added 6. Cassidy Dell dished out 27 assists and added 13 digs while Erin Eby had 16 digs.

Up Next
The Falcons return to action on Saturday, September 20, at 11:00 a.m. against Oberlin College on Jordan Court in Hitchcock Arena.