CINCINNATI, Ohio – The Earlham College volleyball team began its Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference schedule with a 3-1 loss at Mount St. Joseph University on Saturday afternoon. 

The Quakers fell to 7-9 (0-1 HCAC) while the Lions improved to 12-4 (1-0 HCAC).

Maria Young led the offense with 14 kills at a .200 attack percentage. The junior from Bedford, Va. committed just four attack errors and collected 17 digs in the match. Liv Kyrk and Skyler Murray both reached 10 kills for the Quaker front line. 

Erin Wagner extended her streak of contests with at least 20 assists to 11 after dishing out 29 against the Lions. Jen Shamel led the back line with 18 digs and two service aces. 

Led by a 10-2 run, the Lions controlled the first set with a .359 team attack percentage. The Quakers struggled to get the offense moving early on with only eight kills in the first frame. 

EC found its groove in the second set and hit for a .259 percentage with 11 kills while holding the hosts to .091 offensively with a pair of blocks. While leading 12-11, Earlham scored a 10-3 run to near the end of the set. With the Lions attempting to return, Young scored a kill to end the frame. 

Earlham got behind early in the third set and conceded with a .063 attack percentage from six errors on just nine kills. The Lions put up their best offensive set in the finale with a percentage of .414 while Earlhamwas held below .200. 

The Quakers continue HCAC action on Wednesday at home against Hanover College. The match will be broadcast on Indiana SRN and HCAC tv. First serve is slated for 7 pm in Druley Performance Gym.