Syracuse, N.Y.  – The Le Moyne College volleyball team rounded out their season series against LIU at Ted Grant Court on Saturday afternoon. The Dolphins dropped the NEC match in three sets, 25-17, 25-18, 25-11, and now sit with a 1-13 overall record on the year with a 0-2 record in conference play.  

In set one, Le Moyne took an early 9-4 lead before LIU fought back to take a 15-14 lead midway through the set. Despite retaking the lead, 17-16, the Dolphins were unable to close out the set and fell, 25-17, after the Sharks registered nine straight points. LIU came out to a quick 7-0 lead in the second set and were able to withstand a late surge from the Dolphins that brought Le Moyne back within five points, eventually taking the set, 25-18. LIU took another early 7-1 lead in the third set, and kept the upper hand throughout the set, downing Le Moyne, 25-11, to earn the match victory. 

Junior opposite hitter Branwyn Lupton (Napanee, O.N. / Napanee District Secondary School) led the offense for Le Moyne, registering 14 kills while sophomore outside hitters Denali Louden (Murrieta, C.A. / Murrieta Mesa) and Nina Salas (Austin, T.X. / McNeil) each tallied another five kills. Senior setter/DS Haley Gerken (Buffalo, N.Y. / Frontier) put together her third-best mark of the season in assists, adding a team-high 30 in the loss. Salas, Gerken, and junior libero/DS Haley Buescher (Toledo, O.H./St. Ursula Academy) tied for the team-lead with one service ace apiece. 

Defensively, sophomore libero/DS Brooke Menke (St. Louis, M.O. / Visitation Academy) led with nine digs. Freshman middle hitter Eiley Schneider (Ramsey, N.J./Ramsey) registered three blocks in the match while Lupton and senior middle hitter Nil Ezgi Tasdelen (Izmir, Turkey/Ugur Okullari) each put up a pair of blocks, as well. 

For LIU, Brooke Boyles (11) and Sara van Gisteren (10) led the way in terms of kills, while Karly Klaer led with 33 assists in the win. van Gisteren also put up a match-high three service aces. On defense, Miabella Musignac recorded nine digs while Klaer and Yasmeen Muhammad put up team-highs with three blocks each. 

What's Next:
Le Moyne will travel to Hackensack, N.J. for a mid-week conference match against FDU at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 8.