York, Neb. – The Friends University Falcons staged a furious rally from two sets down, but ultimately fell 3-2 at the York University Panthers today (Oct. 19) in York, Neb.
The first two sets saw Friends struggling to find its rhythm, as York's strong serving and balanced attack kept the Falcons on the back foot. The Falcons posted a .273 hitting percentage in the first set with 13 kills, but York outpaced them with critical plays in the closing moments. The second set was similarly tight, but Friends couldn't capitalize on its opportunities, hitting .190 and falling short again.
In the third and fourth sets, the Falcons mounted a remarkable comeback. Led by standout performances from Gabriella Lujan and Sydney Lentz, Friends dominated these sets, hitting an impressive .667 in the third and .500 in the fourth. Lujan contributed a career-high 20 kills in the match, while Lentz finished with 16 kills and a career-high tying six blocks, helping the Falcons surge back into the contest with dominant 25-15 and 25-11 wins.
Setter Maddy Strecker was instrumental in orchestrating the offense with a season-high 29 assists, distributing the ball efficiently to her hitters. Antonia Perier provided a defensive anchor, recording 27 digs as the libero, while also adding an ace from the service line. The Falcons' defense stifled York's attack in the middle sets, leading to numerous transition opportunities.
Despite the momentum swing, the fifth set was a battle, with both teams exchanging points early on. However, the Panthers regained their composure and pulled away late, winning the deciding set 15-10. Friends' offense struggled in the final set, hitting -.091 with seven attack errors, which proved costly as York sealed the win.
Sofia Mekelburg also recorded 13 kills and Teyha Johnson had a career-best 21 assists for the Falcons (12-12, 2-6 KCAC).
Liberty Baker (14 kills) and Avery Schneider (13 kills) led the Panthers offensively and Mariah Janda had a team-high 21 assists. Cassie Richardson paced York (18-9, 4-3 KCAC) defensively with 11 digs.
The Falcons will next play at Ottawa University Wednesday night (Oct. 23) before hosting Kansas Wesleyan University and Haskell Indian Nations University for their Senior Day tri-match on Saturday (Oct. 26).
