Box Score

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Slow starts plagued the Slippery Rock University volleyball team throughout the afternoon on Saturday at Morrow Field House as The Rock lost 3-0 (19-25, 12-25, 18-25) to Mercyhurst on Senior Day.

The loss drops Slippery Rock's record to 8-19 overall and 5-12 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. Mercyhurst improves to 16-13 overall and 8-9 in the PSAC with the win.

Junior outside hitter Kristin Slavoski, sophomore opposite Sarah Cadwallader and junior outside hitter Kaylee Smith each had five kills to lead The Rock (8-19, 5-12 PSAC). Cadwallader also tied her previous career-high with two service aces.

Senior setters Anna Bixler and Kim Wilson tied for a team-high 11 assists. Junior Alee Kromer recorded a team-best 15 digs on the day with Bixler and Cadwallader adding six and five digs as well. Sophomore Hayley Wilson and freshman Caroline Houston combined for Slippery Rock's only block of the match.

The Rock trailed by as many as nine points (20-11) in the first set before an 8-3 Rock run that featured two kills by senior middle blocker Keira Peoples cut the lead to 23-19. However, the comeback attempt was quickly halted when the Lakers took the set's final two points for the 25-19 win.

Mercyhurst came out hot in the second set, scoring the three points on its way to opening up a 15-6 lead and ultimately a 25-12 victory to move ahead 2-0.

Trailing 5-2 in the third set, Slippery Rock rebounded to tie the score at 7-7 as Cadwallader led the charge with two kills and a service ace during the run. A short time later, a kill by freshman outside hitter Lauren Rojek and a block by Wilson and Houston gave Slippery Rock its first lead of the entire match at 9-8. But the Lakers quickly regroup to score five of the next six points, forcing Slippery Rock to take a timeout down 13-10.

Mercyhurst continued to be aggressive out of the break and extended its lead 19-13. Slippery Rock once again battled back by way of a 5-2 run to cut the margin down to 21-18 before the Lakers rallied to score four consecutive points for a match-clinching 25-18 win.

Slippery Rock will look to snap its four-match losing streak in its 2010 home finale Tuesday night against Clarion at 7 p.m.