Box Score Box Score

Anchorage, AK - The Adelphi University volleyball team opened up play at the SpringHill Suites Invitational on Friday, September 7 against Western New Mexico on the campus of the University of Alaska Anchorage. The Panthers dropped the first two games to the Mustangs, but shook the jet lag off in a strong game three, before fallilng 3-1. WIth he loss Adelphi slips to 3-2 on the season.

Kaitlyn DeStefano paced the offense with 12 kills, while Haley Blunt chipped in eight and Shelby Stoner had six. Defensively Adelphi was led by Bree Popham's 13 digs and teammate Bianca Hernandez also reached double digits with 11, while Katie Bryson had a team-high 26 assists.

The Panthers kept pace with the Mustangs early, knotting the score at six on a New Mexico State attack error. But, a Mustang kill seemed to turn the tide to the Mustangs, as Western New Mexico would out score Adelphi, 19-7 the rest of the way to steal a 25-14 game one victory. Adelphi came alive in game two, tying the action at 10 on a DeStefano kill. The Mustangs responded with an 8-1 run to take a seven point lead, 18-11. The Panthers did not give up, reeling off four straight points and using a Colleen Raga kill to cut the lead to three, 18-15. But, it was not enough as Adelphi would fall, 25-20 in game two.

Adelphi played their best game of the match in game three, as no one led by more than four and the game was tied at 17-17. Back-to-back kills from DeStefano put the Panthers on top by two, 19-17 and two straight Mustang miscues would secure the win for Adelphi and force a fourth game. The fourth game started out tight, but Western New Mexico used a 9-0 run to turn a 13-9 lead into a 22-9 bulge. Adelphi would rally, but eventually dropped the fourth game and the match 25-13.

The Panthers return to action at 7:00 pm on Friday, September 7 when they take on the host Seawolves in the Wells Fargo Center in Anchorage, Alaska.