The Misericordia University volleyball team overcame a sluggish start for a 3-1 (14-25, 28-26, 25-18, 27-25) win over DeSales, Wednesday night at the Anderson Center.

Kristin Hoffman led the Cougars with 14 kills and 18 assists while Krystal Burford added 11 kills and two aces.

Lexie Goble had nine kills and Cailin McCullion added eight.

Meghan Hotaling had 24 assists as the Cougars improved to 6-4 overall and 2-1 in the Freedom Conference.

After a sluggish first game that saw them record just five kills, the Cougars pulled out a 28-26 win in game two.

Burford gave MU a 20-19 lead with a kill through a DeSales' block attempt and Molly Harleman added two kills to make it 22-20.

DeSales rallied to tie it 25-25, but the Cougars responded to even the match.

MU took control early in the third game as Burford broke a 3-3 tie with a kill and added back-to-back aces for a 7-4 lead.

McCullion had two consecutive kills, including one to finish a long rally that featured a ball off the ceiling, to give MU a 12-7 lead.

Goble had three kills in a four-point swing for 23-17 advantage and Hotaling's ace made it 24-17. Hotaling finished the game with a dink for a 25-18 win.

The Cougars raced out to an 11-5 lead in the fourth game thanks to three kills and block by Hoffman.

DeSales rallied to eventually take a 20-19 lead and two kills by Burford tied it at 21-21. Harleman had three kills to put MU ahead 24-23 and Goble's two kills made it 26-25 before Shannon Kane finished off the match with a kill.

MU improved to 6-4 overall and 2-1 in the Freedom Conference. The Cougars will travel to Lycoming for a non-league tri-match with Albright, Saturday.