COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – The Ursinus College volleyball team came up just short in its comeback attempt on Tuesday night against Marywood. The Bears lost the opening two sets before storming back to take the next two. However, it was the Pacers who pulled away late in the fifth to take the match, 3-2.

It was a slow start for the Bears. Tied 8-8 in the opening set, the Pacers used an 8-0 run to take control and win the set, 25-19. Marywood gradually pulled away in the second as well. The Bears trailed by as much as six at 23-17 and managed to pull back within two. However, it was too late as the Pacers took a two-set lead, winning the second, 25-22.

Using the momentum from the second, the Bears jumped out to a 9-3 lead in set three which was sparked by two kills from Rachael Girard. The Pacers came back to tie the set at 20, but Ursinus regained control to take five of the next seven points to take the set. A kill from Miranda Foster down the left side gave the set to the Bears.

The Bears fell behind, 10-5, in the early goings of the fourth. However, they stormed back with a 6-1 run led by kills from Isabelle Deal, Kelly Piotrowicz, and Foster to tie the set at 11. Tied at 13, the Bears took the lead off of a Paige DeAlba kill and didn't look back as they went on to take the set 25-18 and tie the match at two sets apiece.

Neither team was able to gain much separation in the decider. Piotrowicz put the Bears on the board early and then gave the Bears a three-point lead at 13-10 late. From down two sets, to now up three match points at 14-11, this time it was the Pacers who came back. Marywood rallied off five consecutive points as the Bears fell 16-14 in the fifth.

Girard led the Bears with 13 kills and 26 digs for a double-double. Luca Walborn tallied 23 assists.

What's Next

The Bears will be back at home on Friday when they host McDaniel to open Centennial Conference play and the play Penn State Brandywine.