Fort Lauderdale, FL - The Adelphi University volleyball team concluded a two-day stay in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. with two losses at the Shark Invitational. The Panthers found their rythmn late, but could not overcome a Saint Leo team that had all the momentum, 3-0 (16-25, 22-25, 23-25) in the morning and came out on the wrong end of a hard fought battle with Lynn, 3-2 (19-25, 25-18, 25-14, 17-25, 13-15). 

Adelphi vs. Saint Leo
The first half of game one was a back and forth affair, and the Panthers took a one point lead, 15-14 on a kill by Mandy Stanislovaitis. However, a Stanislovaitis service error gave control back to the Lions, who unleashed an 11-1 run on Adelphi to collect the win, 25-16. In the second game, Adelphi took another late lead, 20-18 on a kill credited to Amanda Borges. However, Saint Leo outscored the Brown and Gold down the stretch again, 7-2, securing a 25-22 victory.

The third game looked like it was going to be all Lions early, with Saint Leo rushing to an 8-2 advantage and then continued to lead big late, 22-15. However, the Panthers started to claw their way back into the contest, scoring four straight points to pull within three on a Lion miscue, 22-19 and Adelphi kept the pressure on, pulling within one point, 24-23 on back-to-back errors from the Lions. Unfortunately, Saint Leo ended Adelphi's rally and the match thanks to a kill from Hope Lemon, 25-23.

Melissa Rigo and Stanislovaitis led Adelphi's front line with 16 and 10 kills, while Megan Manierski was credited with 30 assists. Sierra Crook was the only member of the Brown and Gold to collect double figure digs, with 13 and Rigo earned six. 

Adelphi vs. Lynn
The Panthers took an early 8-4 lead on a Rigo kill in the first set as the action was going Adelphi's way. However, five quick points from Lynn swung the action the opposite direction and gave the Fighting Knights a one point lead, 9-8. The Brown and Gold recaptured the advantage, 14-13 on a Megan Manierski service ace, but a Lynn kill sparked a set-ending 12-5 run, giving the Fighting Knights a 25-19 win.

The Brown and Gold regrouped between sets and blitzed Lynn in the second game, sprinting out to a commanding 21-9 lead that turned into a 25-18 win, capped with a Rigo hammer for the final point. Adelphi's play remained high in the third set, as the Panthers turned a one point lead, 7-6 into a nine point advantage, 17-8 with a 10-2 spurt. The Brown and Gold kept the pressure on down the stretch in the third game, coming away with a 25-14 win, that put them one set victory away from a match win, 2-1.

It was now Lynn's turn to regroup, as the Fighting Knights jumped all over the Panthers, taking a 5-0 lead in the fourth set. However, Adelphi dug in and clawed their way back into the game, knotting the contest at 15-all on a kill by Amalia Saleh. But, Lynn would not be denied in the fourth game, ripping off a 10-2 run to tie the match at two sets all with a 25-17 win.

Neither team was able to take more then a two point lead in the fifth and final set. Adelphi led late, 12-10 on a service ace, but the Fighting Knights scored four straight before an attack error gave the Panthers the service trailing by a point, 14-13. Unfortunately, Manierski was whistled for a ball handling error after a Borges dig, giving Lynn a 15-13 set win and a 3-2 match victory.

For the fourth match in a row, Rigo and Stanislovaitis paced the offense with 14 and 11 kills, while Manierski earned 36 assists. Sierra Crook picked up a season-high 20 digs and Stanislovaitis had 11. The Adelphi defense stepped up in the contest, posting 13 total blocks, getting eight from Madison Canestrari. 

Adelphi returns to the court on Friday, Sept. 9 at the California (PA) Tournament, hosted by the California University of Pennsylvania. The Panthers will face Grand Valley State, Davis & Elkins, Charleston and the hosts next weekend. 

NOTES
- Despite posting a record of 1-3, the Panthers posted a higher attack percentage then their oppenents, .221-.205 and had more blocks, 56-39.
- Canestrari (20), Rigo (10) and Manierski (10) accounted for 40 of Adelphi's 56 total blocks.
- Both Melissa Rigo and Mandy Stanislovaitis were named to the Sharks Volleyball Invitational All-Tournament Team.

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About Adelphi Athletics:
Adelphi University joined the Northeast-10 Conference in the fall of 2009 and in the past seven seasons, has collected 18 regular season conference titles, 22 tournament championships, 29 individual crowns and captured the Northeast-10 Presidents' Cup three times (2013, 2014, and 2016), while winning five NCAA Division II National Championships.

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