BALTIMORE, Md. – The Cedar Crest College volleyball team earned a four-set win, 3-1, over Notre Dame of Maryland University on Wednesday night in a Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) match at the MBK Sports Complex.

The Falcons took the match by set scores of 25-21, 25-16, 22-25, 25-11 to move into first place in the conference.

The Gators got out to a 7-2 lead in the opening set, but the Falcons answered with a 7-2 spurt of its own to knot the frame at nine-all. After NDMU scored back-to-back points, Cedar Crest strung together four straight points to hold the 13-11 advantage. The Falcons stayed in front for the remainder of the set and after the Gators closed the deficit to one, 21-20, Cedar Crest won four of the last five points to win the set 25-21.

The start of the second set was tight as the teams traded the first 22 points. A setting error by Notre Dame sparked 7-0 run to give Cedar Crest a six-point lead, 17-11. The margin grew to as many as nine after a kill by first-year and reigning CSAC Defensive Player of the Week Ellise Everett (Orlando, Fla./Lake Nona ) to make the score 24-15. The Gators recorded one more point in the frame, but the home team tallied an attack error, giving the Falcons the 25-16 second-set victory.

The strong play from Cedar Crest continued in the third set as the Falcons started on an 8-1 run. The visitors stayed in front until NDMU went on an 8-2 spurt to tie the set at 12. Later in the frame, with the score deadlocked at 14, Cedar Crest scored four straight points to go up 18-14. Down by three late in the set, the Gators closed on a 7-1 run to take the third set, 25-22.

The fourth set began with another 8-1 run by the Falcons, but Cedar Crest did not relinquish the advantage. The Falcons grew its margin to as many as 15, 24-9, before winning 25-11.

Everett guided the Falcons with 14 kills and a match-high six blocks. Junior Maddison Minyo (Covington, Pa./North Penn-Mansfield) followed with a double-double of 10 kills and 11 digs. Sophomore Alexis Cummins (Stafford, Va./Colonial Forge) tallied nine kills and a match-high 21 digs. Junior Ava Grapsy (Macungie, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) finished the match with a double-double of 31 assists and 16 digs while classmate Rebekka Sanchez-Castro (Columbia, Md./Atholton) had 20 digs on the night.

Senior Gabbi Taganas (Perry Hall, Md.) tallied a team-high 12 kills for Notre Dame. Junior Natalie Newton (Harpers Ferry, W. Va.) handed out 21 assists while junior Paulina Hernandez (El Paso, Texas) had 19 digs.

Cedar Crest (10-8 overall, 7-1 CSAC) will travel to the University of Valley Forge on Saturday, October 29 for its regular season finale at 11:00 a.m. Notre Dame of Maryland University (14-7 overall, 7-1 CSAC) welcomes in Cheyney University of Pennsylvania on Thursday, October 27 at 7:00 p.m. for Senior Night.