Sept. 21, 2007

Box Score

Marquette, Mich. - The Mercyhurst women's volleyball made a late run, winning game three and holding off several match-point attempts in game four, but Northern Michigan, playing on its home court, held on for a 3-1 win over a scrappy Laker squad Friday evening.

Mercyhurst (12-4, 0-3 GLIAC) was led by junior Lauren Kubinski's career-high 21 kills, and junior Jenna Matson added 18 kills and five digs. Sophomore Julia Butler posted her second 50-assist performance of the season, as she totaled a match-high 54.

Northern Michigan, earning its third Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) win in four matches, took the first two games by scores of 30-23 and 30-25 despite eight kills from Kubinski and six from Matson.

Mercyhurst answered in game three by capitalizing on Northern Michigan's 10 attack errors. The team's traded the lead three times before the Lakers sealed a 30-27 win with one of senior Christine Nisbet's seven kills.

In the fourth game, Mercyhurst quickly built an 11-7 lead on nine kills and a service ace from freshman Kendall Ashworth before Northern Michigan took a timeout. The Lakers remained in front until an attack error knotted the game at 28-28.

Northern Michigan's Mandie Meyer recorded a pair of kills to give her team a 30-29 lead, but the Lakers battled through four match-points and even took the lead 33-32 before Northern Michigan scored three-straight points to earn a 35-33 win.

Mercyhurst and Northern Michigan each finished the match with seven blocks, and Mercyhurst totaled nine service aces. Ashworth led the Lakers in digs with 15 and freshman Justine Smith recorded one block solo and three block assists.

Friday's match was the start of a three-game road swing that will be Mercyhurst's final trip to Michigan's Upper Peninsula as a member of the GLIAC. On Saturday, the Lakers visit Michigan Tech at 4 p.m., and on Sunday they will take on Lake Superior State at 1 p.m.