FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -  The Millersville volleyball team (2-5) dropped their first two matches of the NSU Shark Invitational on Friday.


HOW IT HAPPENED (Against Findlay)

• Ville jumped out to a strong start, scoring the first three points of the match.
• The first set was a tight back and forth contest, as Findlay eventually fought their way to a 26-24 win.
• The Marauders got off to another hot start in the second set, scoring six of the sets first eight points. Ville would go on another six-point run, taking a 14-6 lead towards the middle of the second set. That would be enough to secure the 25-20 win for Millersville.
• That would be all the Millersville offense would be able to put together, as Findlay picked up wins in the third and fourth sets, securing their 3-1 win.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (Findlay)

• Lauren Lucas led Ville with 14 kills in the match.
• Emma Ludwig added another 30 assists.
• Rebecca Dalstad led the team in digs with 17.
• Millersville served well once again, totaling 11 aces in the match.`

HOW IT HAPPENED (Against Barton)

• Ville suffered their second 26-24 loss of the tournament during the first set against Barton. Both matches started with similar streaks in the first set.
• On the second set, both teams traded blows as the set went back and forth until the teams were tied at 20-20. Barton would go on a three-point run, creating space, and securing back-to-back set wins as the Bulldogs took a 2-0 match advantage.
• Millersville picked up their lone win of the match during the third set. Ville rattled off seven consecutive points to close the match. Ville trailed 18-20 before picking up the 25-20 win.
• In the fourth set, already ahead 11-8, Barton would score seven straight points to take an 18-8 lead. Ville battled back but dropped the set 25-17, suffering their second lost match of the day.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (Barton)

• Captain Kylie Airesman led the team in kills with 14.
• Lauren Lucas added another three aces to her team leading 15.
• Rebecca Dalstad matched her total in digs from the first match of the day with 17, as the Sophomore led the team in digs during both matches

 Quotes from Head Coach Brian Smith
On Findlay

• "Findlay was a strong team. Very good passing and overall ball control. We have been spending more time try to focus our practices on thing we feel we can control more and improve quickly on, and blocking is one of those. We have seen a steady improvement and it showed up against a strong offense team."

On the start to the season

• "With a young team and only a few weeks into a long season we continue to look for more consistency in the skills part of the game, and the timing. These are common problems for a young team and early on. What we can control is our work ethic and of toughness. It's an area we constantly talk about and challenge the team to do. We are making progress in these areas and that is promising. We understand we are facing programs down here who have a lot more resources than we do but we just have to keep putting in the work and you can't put a price on mental toughness and work ethic. We are learning a lot about who we are, what we need to improve as a unit and what it will take from all of us (including coaches) to get to where we need to go.  We need to keep focusing on the things we can control. As frustrating as a rebuild can be it quickly exposes our weaknesses and tests our character and our desire to do the work needed to have success. We have 7 more matches before we begin 0/0 and get into conference play.  We are learning necessary lessons each time we take the court all of these will benefit us later."

UP NEXT

• Ville continues with the Shark Invitational on Saturday as they take on the tournament host, Nova Southeastern at 12:30. The Marauders wrap up their weekend at 3:30 when they take on Barry University.