Box Scores
American International (L, 3-0)
Nebraska-Kearney (L, 3-0)

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – After earning a pair of victories on Friday to begin the Merrimack Invitational, East Stroudsburg University will have to settle for a weekend split after dropping 3-0 decisions to American International and No. 5 Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday afternoon.

The Warriors (8-5) saw a five-game winning streak end after a 25-23, 25-19, 25-18 setback to the Yellow Jackets (11-2). Set scores against the nationally-ranked and undefeated Lopers (13-0) were 25-10, 25-13, 25-19.

ESU jumped ahead 5-2 in the opening set against AIC, with three of those points coming on blocks. The Warriors had an 11-3 edge in rejections in the match, led by six from freshman Sarah Smith (three solos, three assists) and five from freshman Jasmine Williams (all assists).

ESU increased its lead to as many as six points after a 9-1 stretch made it 16-10. The Yellow Jackets, though, took command late, taking five of the final six points after trailing 22-20.

Facing a 13-12 deficit in the second set, AIC rattled off five points in a row to take command en route to a 2-0 set advantage, and the Yellow Jackets were able to complete the sweep in the following set.

Junior Courtney Miller led the Warriors in both kills (8) and attack percentage (.583), while juniors Rosa Veliky and Desiree Claxton each cracked double figures in digs with 13 and 12, respectively.

ESU then had its hands full with a Nebraska-Kearney squad which had lost only one set in 12 matches this fall, and had not surrendered 20 points in a set in its past six matches.

The Lopers continued their strong form this afternoon, finishing the contest with a .319 attack percentage as a team. The Warriors came close to extending the match in the third set, using an 8-0 run to pull within 20-17, but Nebraska-Kearney regrouped to win five of the final seven points.

Freshman Abby Moore chipped in 10 digs, and Claxton had a team-high six kills.

ESU can now look ahead to the start of PSAC competition. The Warriors will remain on the road for their first two conference contests, taking on Clarion at 7 p.m. on Friday before traveling to IUP for a 1 p.m. tilt next Saturday.