DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Oct. 21, 2017) – Despite a match-high 15 kills from junior Kaitlyn Partridge (Corona, Calif./Mt. San Antonio College), the Mercy College volleyball team dropped a 3-2 (25-18, 19-25, 17-25, 25-18, 12-15) decision to ECC foe Roberts Wesleyan College on Saturday afternoon at Dobbs Ferry High School.

The Mavericks (6-18, 0-8 ECC) see their three-match winning streak come to an end, while the Redhawks (2-23, 2-7 ECC) sweep the season series with Mercy.

Partridge hit .300 on the day and added four digs, while freshman Courtney Gebhardt (Bloomingburg, N.Y./Pine Bush) added nine kills and 11 digs. Freshman Adriana Lopez-Soto (Gurabo, Puerto Rico/Notre Dame HS) contributed a team-high 30 assists and 14 digs and sophomore Gabriella Fernandes (Islip, N.Y./Islip) netted 12 digs.

Roberts Wesleyan was led by Courtney Taylor who had 13 kills and ten digs.

The opening set of the match saw the Mavericks jump out to an early 4-1 lead, forcing a Redhawk timeout. Out of the timeout, Roberts Wesleyan battled back and took a 12-10 lead. However, Mercy bounced right back and went on a 10-0 run to take a 20-12 lead and did not look back in taking the first set, 25-18.

Mercy got off to a 6-4 lead in set two, but the visitors fought back and went on a 15-5 run to take a 19-11 lead. The Redhawks led the rest of the way in earning a 25-19 set two win.

The third set saw Partridge open the frame up with two kills to give the Mavericks an early 3-1 lead, but it did not last long as the Redhawks ensued with a 19-7 run to build a 20-10 advantage. Roberts Wesleyan held the lead throughout the remainder of the set in taking a 25-17 decision to take a 2-1 lead.

Roberts Wesleyan jumped out to the early lead in set four, but the Mavericks regained their edge and took a 16-14 lead, forcing a Redhawks timeout. Out of the timeout, Mercy closed the set on a 9-4 run to take the fourth set, 25-18, and even the match up at 2-2.

The deciding fifth set saw the two teams tied at 8-8 before the Redhawks followed with a 6-2 run to build a 14-10 advantage. After two straight points by the Mavericks to make it 14-12, Anastasia Smith recorded a kill for Roberts Wesleyan to secure the match for the Redhawks.

Mercy hit .161 with 46 kills and 68 digs, while Roberts Wesleyan hit .123 with 49 kills and 71 digs.

Head Coach Georgia Efthalitsides and the Mavericks resume action tomorrow when they host Daemen College at Westchester Community College at 1:30 p.m.