KUTZTOWN, Pa. -  The Marauders traveled to Kutztown to take on the Golden Bears in the biggest game of their season on Saturday afternoon. Sitting in sixth place in the PSAC East coming into the match, Millersville desperately needed a win to improve their playoff odds. 
 
Millersville fell behind early in the first set due to a 5-0 Kutztown run featuring a stretch in which the Golden Bears recorded three consecutive service aces. The run gave them a 12-5 edge and they kept their lead around six or seven throughout the middle game.  The Marauders cut the lead to four later in the set, but the initial deficit was too much to overcome. 
 
Millersville built on its strong close to the first set in set two, trading points with the Golden Bears throughout the early going. Madison Von Neida's timely service ace tied the game back up at 11 after Kutztown had created a minor advantage. Millersville received offensive contributions from almost everyone who stepped on the court, as eight players recorded a point during the set. Taylor Welter and Alex Nava led the way with four kills each. 
 
With his team suddenly down 22-20 due to a Kutztown block and service ace, head coach Brian Smith called timeout. His young team immediately responded, tying the game back up at 22 with a kill from Emma Kerwin on a drop shot and an Elizabeth Villegas ace. The pendulum swung back the other way as the Golden Bears took the next two points and caused a second Millerville stoppage. 
 
Yet again, the Marauders answered right back by leveling the set at 24. A sneaky tap-in by Emma Ludwig gave them the advantage, but the hosts would end up claiming the next three points and the set. 
 
With the season on the line, the Marauders came out with renewed vigor and grabbed a 6-1 lead right away. The set was far from over, however, and Kutztown slowly cut into that lead before eventually tying it at 20. Welter's seventh kill of the set put the guests back in front 21-20. The Golden Bears then scored four straight to put the Marauders in a precarious position down 24-21. The guests scored twice to bring themselves within one but Kutztown finished the match off 25-23 with a kill. 
 
Next up, Millersville returns home to face Lock Haven on Nov. 10 at 7 p.m.

GAME NOTES

• The season series evens up at 1-1 after today's loss because Millersville swept Kutztown earlier this year. The Marauders still hold the advantage in the all-time series, however, with a record of 20-13. 
• The Marauders remain in a tie for sixth place in the PSAC East with a 3-9 record after the loss. Kutztown joins them and West Chester in that sixth-place tie with their victory. Ahead of them in the standings are Bloomsburg and Lock Haven, both with a 4-8 record in conference play. Millersville will host both of those schools next weekend.

• Taylor Welter was tied for the match lead with 16 kills while Alex Nava finished second on the team with 10. 
• The Golden Bears recorded nine service aces compared to the Marauders' three. In a match that was relatively close in every other statistical category, the six-point difference was massive.