MILLERSVILLE, Pa. – Despite facing deficits of six or more points in four of five sets, the Millersville Marauders managed to pull out the 3-2 victory over the visiting Jefferson Rams. The visitors out-hit the hosts but the 'Ville's proficiency at the net and down the stretch secured the win. Kylee Schurig was consistently dominant and finished the match with 25 kills, the most by a Marauder since at least 2012. 
 
The Rams spent all evening taking advantage of slow starts by the Marauders, and the first set was no different. Millersville took a hold on the set as it reached its later stages, turning a seven-point deficit into a 25-22 set victory. The guests held a 16-10 lead, but a quick six-point spurt fueled by kills from Schurig and Emma Kerwin knotted it up. Millersville seemed to have a hold on the set as it reached its later stages, but that momentum would not carry into the second game. They quickly found themselves down 13-7 and couldn't come back, evening the match score at one apiece. 
 
A nine-point margin was what faced the Marauders in set three; they fell behind 17-9 due to the offensive firepower of their opponents. A timeout from head coach Brian Smith seemed to make a difference, as the hosts responded with a 14-4 run that gave them the lead. The final point in that run was maybe the most crucial, as Emma Ludwig slammed the ball to the hardwood after a lengthy rally to put the 'Ville up for the first time since they were up 2-1. Back to back Rams errors secured the 25-23 victory a few points later. 
 
Once again, Jefferson jumped out to an early advantage in set four. A 6-1 lead turned into a 17-9 lead which resulted in a 25-17 set victory for the Rams. Millersville decided to return the favor in the final set, quickly grabbing a 4-1 advantage. The visitors were undeterred by this and led 8-7 heading into the side change. A Kerwin kill and a clean service ace from Caroline Halsey gave the Marauders the lead and they never relinquished it, ending the match 15-13 with a scorching hit from the right arm of Taylor Welter. 

POSTGAME REACTION FROM BRIAN SMITH: 

• Overall thoughts: "We have a history with Jefferson of always going into some long and strange matches, so I was I wasn't surprised that it was a battle for both teams. I think both teams showed potential for how well they can do this year as well as some inexperience and mistakes."
• On the slow starts to sets:  "In set one and set two, it was unforced errors.  It felt like our girls were trying to get an amazing kill every single time instead of doing what the situation called for (…) We love to swing hard, but we also must learn to adjust to teams and we didn't adjust early."

GAME NOTES

• Millersville moves to 10-8 all-time against Jefferson with the victory. The two schools are an even 5-5 in their last 10 meetings.
• Alex Nava made her season debut in set three. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• The Marauders were down by six at least once in each of the first four sets. 
• Schurig set a new career high with 25 kills, which is also the most kills by a Marauder since at least 2012. It is seven off of the team's all-time record of 32 set by Abby Hafer in 1995. Multiple players have recorded 24 kills in recent history, like Kerwin against East Stroudsburg last season, but none have reached 25. 

UP NEXT:

• The Marauders host Dominican (N.Y.) for a doubleheader at Penn Manor High School on Saturday, Sept. 14. The first match is scheduled for 12:30 pm and the second for 3 pm.