Box Score

In a match that went five sets and featured two games that went to extra points, the Albright volleyball team was finally defeated in its season opener vs. Dickinson, falling 3-2 (25-12, 21-25, 26-28, 25-20, 17-15) on Monday in the Bollman Center.

Senior Alyssa Hoogendoorn had 13 kills and eight total blocks, while junior Christa Mantz also had 13 kills to go with 22 digs. Morgan Heath (25 assists, 10 digs) also had a double-double, while senior Casey McFadden added a game-high 30 digs.

The deciding fifth game couldn't even be concluded in the standard number of points, as the sides still found themselves deadlocked at 15-15. Aces from Mantz and McFadden helped the Lions build a 5-3 advantage early in the set.

Dickinson's Emily Kisak didn't even appear in two of the opening four sets but came off the bench to become the unlilely hero for the visitors. Kisak ran off three kills to put her team ahead, then served consecutive aces to continue that advantage.

Joanna De Castro's ace made it 10-6 Dickinson, but Albright fought back and pulled to within one on Heath's service ace. Albright lost the next point on a long rally and trailed 13-11 despite great digs from Hoogendoorn, Heath and Alexa Jones on the play.

Kills from Hoogendoorn on three of the next four plays kept the Lions alive however, and they even inched ahead 15-14 on a Kisak error (the only one of her fifth set attacks that wasn't a kill). Dickinson would go on to win the game (and match) however, fittingly on a kill by Kisak.

Albright had gone ahead 2-1 in sets after winning a marathon 28-26 decision in game three. Sophomore Daivonna Ham had consecutive service aces, but Kisak responded with two aces of her own. Heath made the difference by punching a kill back behind her head to put the Lions up 27-26.

Emily Smith had back-to-back aces for Dickinson in the fourth set, and the Red Devils pulled away despite Albright senior Erin Wentzel repeating the feat.

Smith led the visitors with 23 kills and a .400 hitting percentage, while setter Jenn Morrissey served up 42 assists for Dickinson. Albright (0-1) will host Elizabethtown on Wednesday.