The Misericordia University women's volleyball team dropped a tough 3-1 decision at Stevens in the MAC Freedom semifinals, Wednesday night.

The Cougars dropped the first two sets, 25-18, 25-9, before rallying to win the third set, 26-24.  Stevens took the finale, 25-20.

Sadie Stockslager led the Cougars with 13 kills while Fiona Pyfer added 10 kills and four blocks.

Annika Massa had 30 assists and 17 digs and Shelby Hastings had a team-high five blocks.

Misericordia jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the opener thanks to kills by Hastings and Stockslager and a pair of aces by Massa.

Stevens rallied to take an 11-7 lead and eventually closed the set on a 5-1 run.

The Ducks took a 10-2 lead in the second and never looked back in a 25-9 win.

Down 18-13 in the third set, the Cougars used a 6-2 run to get within 20-19.  Jess Oltman and Pyfer both had two kills to lead the MU charge.

Merritt had two kills to put MU in front, 23-22.

Stevens regained the lead, 24-23, but Merritt tied it with an ace and Jess Cleveland closed the match with an ace following an attack error by the Ducks.

Kills by Merritt and Pyfer gave MU a 7-5 lead in the fourth set, but the Ducks rallied for five straight points to take a 10-5 lead.

Jessica Cleveland had two consecutive aces as the Cougars tied the score, 12-12.

Stevens used a 6-1 run to build a 24-18 lead to clinch the win.