Reading, Pa. (Sept. 28, 2021) - Messiah University (10-6, 3-1) held off Alvernia University (6-8, 0-4) to come away with a 3-0 straight set win over the Golden Wolves on Tuesday night in MAC Commonwealth Women's Volleyball action at Alvernia.

The Falcons came away with 25-21, 25-16, and 25-21 set wins over the Golden Wolves for the 3-0 win.

In set one of the night, Messiah and Alvernia were locked in early with the Falcons holding a slight 4-3 lead. Messiah then went on a 7-1 run to jump out to an 11-4 lead over Alvernia. The Golden Wolves then went on a run of their own, which was capped by a block from Rachel Sipling and Jamie Pierce, to bring Alvernia within two at 13-11.

Later in the set, Messiah held a 18-16 advantage over Alvernia. After Messiah progressed to a 24-19 lead, Alvernia held off set-point twice to come within three, 24-21. Messiah sealed the set on a service error by Alvernia to take the 1-0 lead. 

In the second set, Alvernia and Messiah went back and forth early on. The Falcons and Golden Wolves traded the lead often before tying at 14-14. A big 11-2 run by the Falcons though would give them the set win as they came away at 25-16. Messiah scored six straight points to close out the set for the 2-1 lead.

Alvernia came into the third set firing, jumping out to a 14-11 lead after back-to-back aces by Sipling. An 8-0 run by the Falcons though would put Messiah back in front, 19-14. Alvernia closed the lead to 19-17 on the serve of Taylor Suto. Service and attack errors by Messiah down the stretch kept Alvernia in it, but Messiah came away with the 25-21 set win on a kill to close out the 3-0 match win.

Sipling led with nine kills and four aces, and Olivia Frutiger finished with eight kills. Both Alexis Schwenk and Molly Gaffney finished with ten assists, Gabrielle DeLucca finished with 11 digs.

Alvernia returns to action on Thursday with a home match against Elizabethtown.