ERIE, Pa. — Niagara volleyball dropped a three-set decision at Mercyhurst on Saturday, 25-16, 25-23, 25-18, at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center in the final day of the Mercyhurst Invitational
The loss dropped the Purple Eagles to 0-6, while Mercyhurst improved to 3-6.
Set One
In the first set Mercyhurst opened with a kill and an ace to jump ahead 3-0, and although Moreland's back-to-back aces briefly tied the set at 4-4, the Lakers answered with a string of kills from Mia Mattingly and Alyssa Krause to seize control with a 18-9 lead before Moreland delivered her third ace of the set. The Lakers put together four more points, but the Purple Eagles wouldn't back down scoring five straight of their own to make it a 22-16 game. Mercyhurst closed the set out with three straight points to take it 25-16.
Set Two
The second set was where Niagara made its stand. Trailing 13-10, the Purple Eagles ripped off a 6-0 run, led by three service aces from Kattai and capped off with a kill from Kadee Goolsby to flip the set and take a 16-13 lead. The two sides traded points from there, with kills from Payton Lee and Sole Rancy keeping Niagara in front. A Katelynn Rottman ace pushed the lead to 22-20 late. But Mercyhurst scored on five of the final six points, including a tying kill from Anna Logan and back-to-back points to close it, to escape with a 25-23 win and a 2-0 match lead.
Set Three
The Lakers built an 5-2 early cushion in the second set behind Ava Carney and Krause, and although the Purple Eagles clawed within one at 5-4 and 6-5 on kills from Natasa Ljubicic. Chloe Moreland and Kattai kept Niagara in it with kills to keep the deficit to one at 14-13. Mercyhurst pulled away again down the stretch, getting service aces from Trinity Tatupu and Mya Comer to help close out the match, 25-18.
Game Notes
Niagara is now 3-12 all-time against Mercyhurst
Lee led the Purple and White with 11 kills
Karlotta Kattai recorded four aces, while Ashley Moreland added three
Ljubicic made her season debut tying her career-high with two kills
Paisley Ka'ahanui led Niagara with 17 kills
Up Next
Niagara heads home for the first time this season to wrap up the non-conference portion of their schedule against Valparaiso and Le Moyne Friday September 18 and Saturday September 19 for the WNY Invitational.
