The Misericordia University volleyball team clinched a MAC Freedom Tournament berth with a 3-1 win at Wilkes, Wednesday.

The Cougars dropped the first set, 25-15, but rallied to win three straight, 25-18, 25-14, 25-23.

Tara Welliver led the Cougars with 15 kills, three blocks and two aces while Faith Merritt and Fiona Pyfer had 10 kills each.

Karley May had 42 assists and three aces.

Allison Swartz had 17 digs while Mikayla Gunkle and Faith Merritt had 12 digs each.

After dropping the first set, the Cougars used a 9-1 run to take a 13-6 lead in the second set. 

Merritt had three kills to start the run and Welliver ended it with three kills in the last four points.

Welliver had three straight kills and a block to give the Cougars a 24-17 lead and closed the set with a kill.

The Cougars used another 9-1 spurt to take control of the third set. 

Pyfer had two kills and May added two aces to key the spurt as the Cougars took a 19-9 lead.

MU took advantage of four Wilkes errors to take a quick 6-0 lead in the fourth set, but Wilkes answered with seven straight points to go in front.

The teams traded points before a kill by Welliver and an ace from Merritt put MU in front for good, 16-14.

The Cougars went ahead 24-20 and Welliver's smash through two blockers in the middle clinched a 25-23 win.

The Cougars are 19-15 overall and finished 4-3 in the MAC Freedom.