Adelphi University Athletics

Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. - Riding a seven-game win streak, the Adelphi University volleyball team was stumped on Tuesday evening, falling in straight sets to reigning East Coast Conference Champion Mercy University. 

Series History: 

• Entering the contest, the Panthers (8-7) had won nine straight matchups against the Mavericks (9-1). 
• The Cats still hold a 10-6 overall record all-time against Mercy, dating back to their first meeting in 2002. 

Highlights: 

• Madeleine Chaapel and Elena Covic paced the Panthers offensively, recording six kills apiece, while Maya Meyers added five kills.
• Ana Carolina Westerich directed the Adelphi attack with 22 assists, while Ada Isik added five assists and five digs.
• Mackenzie Casey led the Panthers at the net, collecting four total blocks, while Covic added two block assists.

How It Happened: 

• The Panthers were outmatched early, as the hosting Mavs jumped out to a 13-7 advantage in the opening set. The home team used a 6-1 run following their early lead to keep Adelphi at bay, and ultimately took six of the last eight points to take a 25-13 commanding first set. 
• Adelphi's offense was held to a sub-.100 team hitting percentage, while their opponent used 14 kills on 22 attempts with one error to reach nearly .600 as a team. 
• Melana Bigelow earned bookend points in a four-point stretch for the Panthers that gave them a 17-14 advantage in the second frame. That lead was quickly diminished by four consecutive errors from the Brown and Gold's side of the court, as the Mavericks used their momentum to secure a 25-20 win to lead 2-0 in the match. 
• The Cats saw another brief lead in the beginning of the third frame, but a seven-point run from Mercy - that featured three of the hosts' 11 blocks - put them back in the driver's seat. Adelphi did what they could to continue to stay in the game and even regain the lead, but at 22-all it was the home team that put the set and match away with three consecutive kills. Mercy finished the contest with a 20-kill advantage over the Panthers and also posted an 11-4 mark in blocks. 

Up Next: 

• Adelphi remains on the road, opening up Northeast10 Conference play on Friday, Sept. 25 against Southern Connecticut State. Opening serve is set for 5:00 p.m. inside Pelz Gymnasium.