ERIE, Pa. - The Bloomsburg University women's volleyball team fell in straight sets at Mercyhurst University on Thursday night as both teams opened Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) action. The Lakers posted a 25-21, 25-14, 25-23 victory over the Huskies to improve to 9-3 overall while Bloomsburg dropped to 5-8 on the season following the setback.

The Huskies made a last-minute rally attempt in the opening set before the Lakers were able to finish it out with a 25-21 win. Bloomsburg trailed 24-17 but rattled off four consecutive points - three on kills from freshman Julia Burcin (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty), sophomore Grace Giza (Plymouth, Pa./Wyoming Valley West), and sophomore Mary Kate Mooney (Royersford, Pa./Pope John Paul II) - to make things interesting. But, Mercyhurst's Alyssa Zirnheld put an end to the run with the set-finishing kill.

Mercyhurst essentially led wire-to-wire in the second set before an entertaining third set that saw the Huskies put together another rally that ultimately fell just short. Bloomsburg trailed 11-4 before going on an 11-4 run of its own to tie the set at 15-15. The Lakers would later take a 22-18 advantage before the Huskies scored five of the next six points to tie it again at 23-23. However, Mercyhurst scored the final two points to eliminate the thoughts of a fourth set.

Giza and fellow sophomore Sydney Buell (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) paced the Huskies with eight kills apiece with Buell hitting a team-high .192 on the night. Mooney finished with four kills and ten digs while Burcin and fellow freshman Ashley Adams (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg Area) had three kills apiece. Burcin had a strong night at the night by posting a team-high five total blocks (one solo, four assisted).

Sophomore Bryn Stek (Ambler, Pa./Upper Dublin) led the Huskies with 14 assists while freshman Brooke Kratzer (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) chipped in with nine as the duo continue to split time at the setter position. Junior Alyssa Cianciulli (Royersford, Pa./Pope John Paul II), the reigning PSAC Defensive Athlete of the Week, finished with 16 digs and moved to within 18 of reaching 1,000 for her Bloomsburg career.

Tess Ganich led Mercyhurst with 12 kills while Hannah Vuylsteke had 25 digs in the win.

The Huskies remain in the northwest corner of the state on Friday, September 27, when they take on the Fighting Scots of Edinboro University. Start time is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.