Messiah def. Lebanon Valley 3-2 (27-25, 25-27, 17-25, 28-26, 15-9)

How It Happened
GRANTHAM, Pa. – In one of the most exciting matches of the year, Lebanon Valley was edged by Messiah 3-2 in a thrilling five-set match. Despite the loss, the Dutchmen clinched a spot in the MAC-Commonwealth playoffs, which begin on Nov. 2.

First Set
The first set was tight throughout with the score tied early on at 7-7. After the Dutchmen opened up a small lead at 10-8, the Falcons went on an 8-0 run to take a 16-10 advantage. LVC battled back and eventually tied the score at 24-24 off an Emily Sides service ace and an attack error by Messiah gave the Dutchmen game point, but three straight from the Falcons clinched the first set at 27-25.

Second Set
LVC stormed out of the gates in the second set, scoring the first five points and maintained its lead until Messiah came back to tie it at 12-12. After the Falcons took a 16-14 lead, four consecutive LVC points put the Dutchmen up 18-16. When Messiah came to within one point at 19-18, three straight points, including two service aces from Greta Weidemoyer, extended the lead to four at 22-18. The Falcons, however, came back to tie it at 25-25, but two kills from Sides and Weidemoyer clinched the second set for LVC at 27-25.

Third Set
The Dutchmen kept their momentum going and led early in the third set at 10-5. After Messiah came to within three at 15-12, a 6-2 run put LVC back ahead comfortably at 21-14. A Falcons' attack error clinched the third set for the Dutchmen at 25-17, giving them a 2-1 lead in the match.

Fourth Set
It was another close set in the fourth with the score tied at 8-8 and later at 14-14 as each team traded off points. Three of the next four points were scored by LVC to put the Dutchmen up 17-15, and later the lead was extended to 22-18 off a Weidemoyer kill. Messiah, however, answered with a 5-1 run to take a 23-22 advantage. LVC scored the next two and saw a match point, but the Falcons' Jane Underman ripped a kill to tie it at 24-24. Tied at 26-26, Messiah scored two in a row to take the fourth set 28-26 and send an already-exciting match to a fifth and final set.

Fifth Set
The Dutchmen opened up the fifth set impressively, scoring six of the first seven points. But a 10-1 run by the Falcons put Messiah up 11-7. LVC came to within three at 12-9, but the Falcons staved off the Dutchmen and held on for the 15-9 win.

Inside the Numbers
Weidemoyer finished with 17 kills, while Alli Quirk had 15 and Amber Deshong notched 10. Quirk and Chloe McCarty had three blocks apiece, and Sides added two more. Rachel Moltz was solid with 36 assists and Sides had 17. Allie Garrett recorded 30 digs and Moltz added 13 more.

Dutchmen Clinch
LVC moved to 14-9, 4-2 MAC-COM and will be in the conference playoffs for the third consecutive year.

Who's Next?
LVC hosts the Dutchmen Quad this Friday and Saturday. They will take on Montclair State Friday night at 8 p.m. before battling Elizabethtown on Saturday at 10 a.m. and finish up with Wilkes at 4 p.m.