CRESSON, Pa. – Mountie women's volleyball put up a strong fight on Thursday evening but came up short against nationally ranked No. 25 Carnegie Mellon, falling in straight sets (25-17, 27-25, 25-23) inside the Athletic Convocation & Wellness Center.

The Tartans (11-4) controlled the first set behind efficient hitting (.310), while the Mounties struggled to find rhythm offensively, dropping the opener 25-17. Mount Aloysius (10-6) responded with resilience in the second, holding late leads before Carnegie Mellon edged out a 27-25 win. The third frame proved just as tight, but the Tartans closed on a late push to secure the 25-23 victory and the sweep.

Molly Richards (Naples, Fla., Naples) once again paced the Mountie attack with 12 kills to go along with 18 digs. Mackenzie Barr (Pittsburgh, Pa., Shaler) added seven kills and two blocks, while freshman setter Kiersten Cummings dished out 11 assists and contributed two service aces. On the defensive end, libero Madison Barr (Pittsburgh, Pa., Shaler) anchored the back row with a team-high 19 digs, followed closely by Richards and Poliana Lazarini (Marialva, Brazil / Garrido), who each reached double figures.

Carnegie Mellon's balanced offense proved to be the difference, led by Kate Giang's 14 kills and setter Neha Tummala's 35 assists. Defensively, Zoe Gavros tallied a match-high 24 digs to keep the Mounties' attack in check.

Despite the loss, Mount Aloysius matched the Tartans point-for-point in extended rallies and showed composure against a top-25 opponent.

The Mounties return to action this weekend @ Penn State Mont Alto (5-6) on Saturday. They'll play at 2:00, right after Mont Alto's match with Penn State Scranton at 12:00 PM.