The Misericordia University men's volleyball team lost its season opener to Messiah, 3-1, Wednesday night at the Anderson Center.

After dropping the first two sets, the Cougars rallied to win the third, 25-23, and led in the fourth before falling, 26-24.

Ryan Miller led the Cougars with 14 kills while Matt Lavin and Brian Ross had six kills each.

Jordan Spidle had 36 assists in collegiate debut and Ross, Matt Lavin and Billy Murphy all had three blocks.

In the opener, Messiah scored four straight points to take an 11-6 lead.

Miller had an ace and a kill to cap a 5-1 run to get the Cougars within 20-17, but the Falcons scored five of the next six points to close out the set.

In the second set, Miller's kill and a kill and an ace by Caleb Bauder got the Cougars within 12-10.

Messiah scored four straight points to take a 20-13 lead before closing out the set.

Trailing 4-1 in the third set, a kill by Miller and a block by Ross and Murphy fueled a 4-0 spurt as the Cougars took their first lead, 5-4.

Three Messiah errors and a kill by Lavin put the Cougars in front for good, 18-16.

Bauder scored two of the last three points on kills to give the Cougars a 25-23 win.

Messiah scored two straight points to break a 19-19 in the fourth set, but the Cougars rallied to pull even, 24-24.

The Falcons answered with the next two points to close out the match.