MIDDLETOWN, Pa. - After emerging victorious in its first three outings of the young season, Penn State Harrisburg's women's volleyball team dropped its first match of the year at the Capital Union Building on Tuesday night, falling 3-0 to Misericordia by set scores of 25-13, 25-15, and 25-20. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Lions (3-1) were hampered by a slow start that included a choppy first set and up-and-down second set before showing plenty of fight in a narrow third-set defeat. The Cougars (3-1) used a 10-1 run early in the opening set to jump out to a 12-3 advantage and cruise to a 25-13 decision in the first go-round. 

The home team fell behind 8-3 to begin the second set but drew to within three when Julia Choe's lone kill of the evening cut the deficit to 11-8. Misericordia responded with a key 5-0 spurt that made it 16-9 and despite blocks from Tiniira Tubo and Emmaline Stevens giving the Lions some life, the visitors eventually wrapped up the second set with five straight points. 

The Cougars opened the third set with a 4-1 run but the Penn State Harrisburg got back into it with consecutive kills from Hannah DeGregory and back-to-back-to-back blocks from Tubo and Henderson. The visitors pushed back with four straight points but the Lions answered again and reclaimed the lead at 11-10 thanks to a Camryn Wettstone kill off a Katie Richardson assist. The back-and-forth affair saw kills from Tubo and Brianna Ondishin Ribon keep the home team within striking distance down the stretch but a 5-0 MU run late in the set proved the difference in the end. 

NOTABLES

- Penn State Harrisburg's defense was especially strong at the net as the team racked up seven blocks.

- Ondishin Ribon was efficient, posting a .714 hitting percentage by tallying five kills on just seven swings.

- Tubo and Henderson added three kills apiece, while the pair also combined for a block solo and seven block assists.

- Wettstone finished with a team-high six kills.

- Richardson racked up 19 assists and seven digs from her setter position.

- Choe recorded a team-best 12 digs and added a service ace. 

WHO'S NEXT?

The Lions travel to York (Pa.) for tri-match action on Saturday morning. The opening match begins at 11 a.m.

STAY CONNECTED 

Fans can keep up with Penn State Harrisburg Athletics all season long on Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Threads, and Youtube using the handle @pshbgathletics.