San Marcos, Calif. - The Adelphi University volleyball program headed west this season to start the 2017 campaign. Taking on a pair of California-based programs, the Panthers dropped the first set to Fresno Pacific University, 1-3 (25-23, 22-25, 19-25, 19-25) and the second to host school Cal State San Marcos (21-25, 19-25, 13-25). 

Adelphi vs. Fresno Pacific
The first set against the Sunbirds started out even with the teams locking at five and then again at 10-all. FPU coupled three kills and a service ace for a 5-0 run to push ahead of the competition but Adelphi, down by at most seven, fought back and took advantage of four late miscues by the Sunbirds to take a 1-0 lead in the game. The second set trailed after the 10-9 mark despite back-to-back kills from Victoria Cast and McKenna Clawson which brought them within one. Tables turned and Fresno Pacific was able to capitalize on four consecutive attack errors from the Panthers en route to a 25-22 victory. 

The teams battled back-and-forth for control in the third but three-point spurts for the Sunbirds allowed them to pull away. Katarina Warburton recorded a service ace to come within two, however FPU outscored the Brown and Gold down the stretch again, 6-1, securing a 25-19 victory. A timeout called by Head Coach Danielle MacKnight allowed Adelphi to run off three points and come within one in the fourth but Fresno rattled off four points of their own to stretch the lead to five. Unable to string any points together, the Panthers dropped the fourth set 25-19, to fall to 0-1 this season.  

Clawson and Cast led Adelphi's front line with eight and six kills, while Megan Manierski was credited with 20 assists. Warburton put up career numbers on defense, collecting a career-best and team-high 25 digs as Seeba and Clawson accounted for 12 and 11, respectively. 

Adelphi vs. Cal State San Marcos
Another back-and-forth affair started off the second game of the day for the Panthers but a five-point run bookmarked by a service ace from Katie Barry and kill from Leilani Vazquez, gave them a two-point advantage. Cal State did not regain their lead until three straight points pushed them ahead 19-18. Down the stretch the teams traded points until four from the Cougars ended the set, securing the win. 

The home team used the momentum from the first set and carried it through the second, jumping out to a 10-4 lead. Point by point the Panthers attempted to come back however the advantage from the Cougars was too great to overcome. A 4-2 run with a kill from Vazquez and service ace from Cara McKenzie brought them within three, but the hosts locked in the victory with the last two points of the set. 

On the stat sheet Clawson again led the team with seven kills, coupled with eight digs. Waburton and Barry both reached double-figure digs despite the loss chipping in 13 and 10 as Manierski was responsible for 14 assists.  

Adelphi returns to the court on Saturday, Sept. 2 for day two of the CSSM Cougar Classic. They are slated to take on Saint Martin's University at 1:00 p.m. EST and Saint Cloud State University at 5:00 p.m. EST. 

---

About Adelphi Athletics:

Adelphi University joined the Northeast-10 Conference in the fall of 2009 and in the past eight seasons, has collected 23 regular season conference titles, 25 tournament championships, 33 individual crowns and captured the Northeast-10 Presidents' Cup four times (2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017), while winning six NCAA Division II National Championships.

For the latest on Adelphi University Athletics, follow the Panthers at www.aupanthers.com or via social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Snapchat.