MARYVILLE, Tenn. --  The Mount Aloysius College women's volleyball team concluded its season-opening Maryville Labor Day Invitational with a near comeback win against Rhodes College on Saturday morning, forcing a final set but ultimately falling 3-2. Earlier on Friday, the Mounties were swept by host Maryville College 3-0 and also were defeated 3-1 by Sewanee University at the Cooper Athletic Center. 

Leaders 
- Kiersten Szpala (Ebensburg, PA, Central Cambria) led the team in kills over the course of the weekend, with a total of 27. She also had a team-high five blocks in the final game against Rhodes. 
- Ashlee Parrish (Northern Cambria, PA, Northern Cambria) contributed a total of 25 kills and 35 digs during the three games. 
- Emma Colyer (Orlando, FL, Olympia) dished out 43 assists, while adding 12 digs. 
- Bella Kies (Bellwood, PA, Bellwood-Antis) recorded the most digs for Mount Aloysius during the tournament with 38.
- Sydney Lechner (Bellwood, PA, Bellwood-Antis) tallied 22 assists and also was effective from serve with five aces. 
- Emily Henry (Carrolltown, PA, Cambria Heights) had four aces, nine kills, and six blocks. 

How It Happened
Game #1 v. Maryville College
- The Mounties kept it close in the early part of the first set and were down just 12-8. However, Maryville would go on a six-point run and then a seven-point run to triumph in the first set, 25-9.
- After Mount Aloysius tied the game 4-4 in Set 2, Maryville strung together seven unanswered points to take a large lead, 11-4. Another strong Maryville stretch brought the score to 23-8 and it eventually won the set 25-11. 
- The Mounties put up a valiant fight in the third set and even held the advantage, 10-9. After falling behind, they bounced back and were down just by one point at 18-17 and then 19-18. However, Maryville won the six of the final seven points to earn the set, 25-19, and overall win. 

Game #2 vs. Sewanee University
- The beginning of the match was a back-and-forth affair until the Mounties opened up a slight lead, 10-7. Sewanee then evened the set at 11, before going ahead 15-12. The Mounties then regained the advantage with a 4-0 run and were ahead 17-16. The set stayed tight up until its conclusion, when at 24-24, Mount Aloysius won two consecutive points for the win, 26-24.
- After a strong start by Sewanee in the second set, the Mounties bounced back and were down just three points, 14-11. However, Sewanee responded with a seven-point run to make it 21-11 and then held on for the set win, 25-14.
- The Mounties led early on before six straight points by Sewanee gave it the lead, 11-8. Mount Aloysius would then get within one point of Sewanee, 13-12. However, Sewanee would maintain a slight advantage as the set progressed and ultimately even increased the gap, winning the set 25-18.
- Mount Aloysius stayed within reach of Sewanee in Set 4 and were down just 17-14. However, a commanding finish by Sewanee - in which it won eight of the last nine points - gave Sewanee the set, 25-15, and match win, 3-1.

Game #3 vs. Rhodes College
- Rhodes controlled the opening set, winning 25-18.
- The second set was a heartbreaker for the Mounties as they held multiple set points at 24-20 and were unable to close it out. Rhodes came back with six straight points to snatch away the set, 26-24. 
- The Mounties did not let a repeat of Set 2 happen in Set 3, this time winning seven of the last eight points to win 25-21.
- In the latter stage of Set 4, the Mounties were down 23-19 but they responded ferociously with a 6-0 run to win the set 25-23 and tie the match, 2-2.
- Mount Aloysius ran out of steam in the fifth and decisive set, falling 15-6. 

Into the Box Score
- In the Sewanee match, Mount Aloysius led in digs, 61 to 57.
- Against Rhodes, both teams were tied in blocks with eight total, and both teams were even with nine aces.

Up Next
- The Mounties stay on the road but this time will take the short trip to Latrobe, Pa. to face Saint Vincent College on Wednesday Sept. 7 at 7 p.m.