Box Score

IMMACULATA, Pa. - Immaculata University's volleyball team lost its Colonial States Athletic Conference opener on Tuesday night to Gwynedd-Mercy College, 3-2, inside Alumnae Hall. The visiting Griffins won the match by scores of 25-18, 25-22, 20-25, 19-25 and 15-9.

Immaculata dips to 2-5 overall and 0-1 in the CSAC while Gwynedd-Mercy improves to 2-8, 1-0 CSAC.

Jessica Egan had a team-high 11 kills and added a team-leading four blocks. Allison Lang was the other Mighty mac in double-figures in the kills column with 10, and she also had four service aces. Kathleen Haefner registered a double-double with 30 assists and 10 digs.

Brooke Schreffler made a team-leading 16 digs while Courtney Sahm added 10 digs.

It was a see-saw match throughout all five sets. The Griffins won the first point of the match and set the pace for the opening set. However, the Mighty Macs kept hanging out to win points to stay within striking distance.

The second set began with Gwynedd-Mercy running out to a 6-1 lead. But, the Mighty Macs used some key sideouts and Lang served up six consecutive points for Immaculata to tie the score at 10-all. The two teams continued to trade points until the Mighty Macs pulled ahead 16-14 on Sahm's service ace. Immaculata maintained the advantage until the Griffins went on a four-point rally to tie the score at 20-20. It was still tied at 21-all, but, Gwynedd-Mercy won four of the final five points of the second set.

The Mighty Macs again rallied from behind early in the third set, but one they pulled ahead from a 12-all tie, they never trailed the rest of the way. Immaculata scored of seven points to break the tie and give the Mighty Macs an 18-13 lead. The Mighty Macs had their largest advantage at 21-15, but the Griffins began to edge back in with four straight points to cut the lead to two (21-19).

The fourth set was another battle and forth. With the score knotted at 10-10, the Mighty Macs won the next three points and appeared to be in control the rest of the way. Gwynedd-Mercy got as close at two (16-14), but the Mighty Macs quickly responded with three straight points to give themselves a cushion once again.

The Mighty Macs quickly got out to a 5-2 advantage in the deciding fifth set but the Griffins were able to net the score at 6-all. Gwynedd-Mercy held just a one-point lead (9-8) when the Griffins pulled away on the strength of five consecutive points, and closed out the match 15-9.

Gwynedd-Mercy had three plays record double-doubles. Rachel Lambert had a match-high in both kills (20) and digs (19). Maria Stilwell racked up 40 assists and 11 digs, and Aileen Reilly totaled 11 kills and 10 digs.

Immaculata continues its three-game homestand on Thursday evening as it hosts Bryn Mawr at 7 p.m. in a non-conference match.