NEWBURGH, N.Y. – The Mount Saint Mary College women's volleyball team struggled in their second hosted tri-match of the season. 
 
The Basics
(Match 1)
Score: Mount Saint Mary College 0, USMMA 3
Records: Mount Saint Mary College (8-17, 4-5 Skyline) | USMMA (15-6, 7-2)
 
(Match 2)
Score: Mount Saint Mary College 1, MCLA 3
Records: Mount Saint Mary College (8-18, 4-5 Skyline) | MCLA (10-16, 3-3)
 
Rapid Recap
Currently slated as the 7th seed, Mount Saint Mary needs a strong finish to the season if they are going to be one of the top six teams and make the playoffs. Merchant Marine was the first team the Knights played in their tri-match on Saturday morning. The Mariners jumped out to an early lead, but the Mount responded fast as Jonaiya Williams brought the Knights back to tie the set up 6-6. The first set was tight, as Julianna Simone asserted her dominance with three straight kills to give Mount Saint Mary a 13-12 lead. The Mount would lead 23-19, only needing two points to win the set, but a 6-0 run from Merchant Marine flipped the switch as the Mariners went up 1-0.

The momentum had completely shifted and that was shown in the second set. USMMA jumped out to a 7-0 lead early before the Knights were able to get a point on the board. Offensively, the Mount struggled not being able to score more than one point in a row. The Mariners took over the set and won 25-7 to take a 2-0 lead.

The Knights seemed defeated as Merchant Marine had yet another big lead early on in the third set. Once again, Mount Saint Mary couldn't string together much offensively and looked out of sync on the defensive end. The Mount was only able to score 10 points this set as USMMA won the third set 25-10 and the match 3-0.

Looking to rebound after their lackluster performance earlier in the day, Mount Saint Mary started off their match against the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts with a 6-1 lead, that included points from Julianna Simone, Sofia Fredericks, and Jonaiya Williams. Junior middle blocker Ava DiScala had the best match of her career against the Trailblazers, coming up with a career-high 11 kills and 7 blocks. MCLA stormed back to take a 10-7 lead, but the Knights responded stealing the lead right back after three straight kills from DiScala gave the Mount a 12-11 lead. Mount Saint Mary was up 19-17 late in the set, but just like their match against USMMA, they stalled in the opening set allowing the Trailblazers to go on an 8-0 run and win the set 25-19.

The Knights looked to bounce back in the second set and they did. With MCLA up three, the Mount scored eight of the next ten points to take a 16-14 lead. The set came down to the wire as we were all tied up at 21-21. Mount Saint Mary prevailed this time as they went on a 4-1 run to close out the set with a kill from who else but Ava DiScala to win the set 25-23 and tie the match 1-1.

MSMC started off the third set red hot as a service run from Jonaiya Williams had the Knights up 12-4. A timeout from the Trailblazers cooled down the Mount as before you knew it their lead was cut to three. The Knights were able to stretch their lead back up to six points, but not for long. Seven straight points for MCLA gave them a 19-18 as Mount Saint Mary was on their heels. The Mount was able to recoup and garner a 23-21 lead in hopes of taking the third set. They weren't able to finish off the Trailblazers as MCLA would come from behind and steal the third set 25-23.

The Knights knew they were going to have to play better in crunch time if they were to come back and beat MCLA. The Trailblazers clung to a small lead for a majority of the first half of the set, but a service run by Erin Lema that included an ace and two kills a piece for Jonaiya Williams and Ava DiScala gave Mount Saint Mary a 14-13 lead. MCLA regained the lead, going up by four points 19-15. The Mount responded to cut their deficit to just one and make the score 20-19. This situation was all too familiar as the Trailblazers scored the last five points to win the set 25-19 and the match 3-1.

Notes and Numbers
           
(Match 1)
Allie Kenney: 12 digs
Julianna Simone: 10 kills

(Match 2)
Jonaiya Williams: 16 kills, 4 aces
Ava DiScala: Career-high 11 kills and 7 blocks
Erin Lema: Career-high 22 digs