The first set went back and forth from the outset with the Lady Pioneers (32-8) holding a slim 10-8 early lead. Then, junior middle hitter Jackie Albrecht (left) hammered two kills and served up two aces as top-seeded MVNU (33-8) went on a 9-2 surge to take a 17-12 lead.

The lead was short-lived, though, as Point Park answered back with a 9-2 run of its own to go in front 21-19. Albrecht and junior middle hitter Sarah Yutzy each had a kill to help the Lady Cougars to a 22-21 lead and another Albrecht kill knotted the score at 23-23, but the Lady Pioneers scored the final two points to take the set 25-23.

MVNU found itself in an early 7-4 hole in the second set, but the Lady Cougars battled back to take the lead for good at 13-12. Albrecht would finish the set with seven kills as MVNU evened the match at one set apiece as the Lady Cougars prevailed 25-22.

The third set was all Point Park as MVNU never led as the Lady Pioneers were able to post a 25-18 victory and take a 2-1 lead in sets.

In the fourth set, Point Park built an early 13-6 advantage and appeared ready to cruise to a victory to end the match. However, the Lady Cougars did not give up without a fight as MVNU pulled within 19-18 on a kill by Albrecht.

After appearing on the verge of rallying to take the set and force a fifth and deciding set, the Lady Cougars watched as the Lady Pioneers scored three straight points to push the margin back out to 22-18. After a pair sideouts, MVNU closed the gap to 23-21, but Point Park went on to score the final two points to take the set 25-21 and advance to the championship match of the tournament.

"Sometimes when you don’t win, you think about all the things that you did not do well,” said MVNU coach Paul Swanson. "While we were far from perfect today, Point Park played really well. Usually we are able to score a few points in a row at crucial times to give us a lead and then close out each set. Today, it was Point Park that was able to do it and that was the difference in the match.”

Albrecht finished with 22 kills, 20 digs, four aces, and four blocks to lead the Lady Cougars, while Springer pounded 14 kills to go with 15 digs. Senior setter Kaylin Austen handed out 45 assists and served up three aces, and Yutzy contributed eight kills and four blocks. Junior libero Caitlin Myles also tallied 25 digs, while freshman right-side hitter Kaylee Hewitt finished with nine digs.

While the loss knocked MVNU out of the AMC Tournament and any possibility of making the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round, the Lady Cougars’ season is not over yet as the team will travel to the National Christian College Athletic Association National Tournament in Kissimmee, Fla. The tournament will take place December 3-5. More details on that tournament will be released when they become available.