IMMACULATA, Pa. — The Cedar Crest College volleyball team fell to Immaculata University in straight sets on Wednesday night at Alumnae Hall.

The Mighty Macs posted set scores of 25-11, 25-12, and 25-17.

In the opening set, Immaculata quickly gained momentum, establishing an 8-0 lead with strong offensive plays, including multiple kills from senior Mia Esposito (Havertown, Pa.) and junior Calissa Araujo (Tabernacle, N.J.). The Falcons responded with a kill from senior Ellise Everett (Orlando, Fla./Lake Nona), sparking a brief rally that added two points to their tally. As the set progressed, Cedar Crest found points through opponent errors and a service ace by senior Tianlly Davila (San Juan, Puerto Rico/Governor Thomas Johnson), but the Mighty Macs' consistent attack, highlighted by first-year Angelica Santini Bulerin(Guaynabo, Puerto Rico)'s setting, maintained their advantage. The Falcons closed the gap slightly with a late rally, but the set ended with Immaculata securing a 25-11 victory.

In the second set, the Mighty Macs capitalized on a strong service performance from Santini Bulerin, who delivered consecutive service aces and contributed to an early 4-0 lead. Everett provided a momentary response with two kills, cutting the deficit to 4-1 and 5-2, but Immaculata sustained their momentum with efficient attacking and service pressure. Later in the set, Cedar Crest found some offensive success through the efforts of first-years Samantha Fitzpatrick (Royse City, Texas/Community) and Kayla Duenkel (Central Square, N.Y./Bishop Grimes), who each registered kills to narrow the gap slightly. However, despite these efforts and a brief scoring run to reach 20-11, Immaculata maintained control with steady play from senior Emma Hodgson (Dover, Del.) and Araujo. The set concluded with the Mighty Macs securing a 25-12 victory, extending their advantage in the match.

The third set opened with Davila delivering a service ace, setting the tone early. Despite a few setbacks, including an attack error, the Falcons leveled the score at 3-3 with a point from an Immaculata attack error. A closely contested sequence saw Cedar Crest narrowing the gap from 7-10 to 10-10, highlighted by a service ace and a kill from Everett, assisted by Davila. However, Immaculata responded with a series of points, extending their lead to 19-14. The Falcons attempted to rally, with Fitzpatrick contributing two kills, but the Mighty Macs maintained their momentum to close the set 25-17.

Everett carried the Falcons' attack with eight kills over three sets, contributing significantly to the team's offensive efforts. Davila showcased her versatility, posting 13 assists and adding three service aces while collecting nine digs on defense. First-year Phoebe Pietila (Hayesville, N.C./Hayesville) anchored the defense with 15 digs, providing stability in the back row.

Esposito led Immaculata with a .563 attack percentage, contributing nine kills and three total blocks over three sets. Santini Bulerin was instrumental in the setting department, tallying 30 assists while adding three service aces across her three appearances. Araujo provided a balanced effort with seven kills, two service aces, and five digs, achieving a .375 hitting percentage. Hodgson also made a notable impact with eight kills at a .235 attack rate and one block solo in three sets.

Cedar Crest (1-14 overall) will now turn its attention to conference play, which begins on Saturday, September 27 at home against Penn State Brandywine at 11:00 a.m. The Falcons will also face Washington College (Md.) at 3:00 p.m. as part of a tri-match. Immaculata (3-5 overall) travels to Eastern University for a tri-match on Saturday against Susquehanna University at 1:00 p.m. and the host Eagles at 3:00 p.m.