ALLIANCE, Ohio—The Mount Union women's volleyball team dropped its final nonconference match up against, defending national champions, Juniata in straight sets, 25-15, 25-15 and 25-21 Friday evening.
 
The Purple Raiders (14-6, 2-2 OAC) were led by junior middle hitter Alexis Meyer (Avon Lake) and freshman right side hitter Riley Meister (Madison) with six kills each.
 
Freshman libero Averi Haley (Orrville) led Mount Union in digs with 18 while senior defensive specialist Adrian Petrisko (Elyria) finished with 13.
 
Junior setter Casey Kildow (Bethesda / Union Local) and freshman setter Melissa Hansen (Hudson) finished with 17 and 10 assists.
 
Freshman middle hitter Ava Bolen and junior outside hitter Darby Leininger (Chardon / Beaumont) led the block for the Raiders with each having three slowing down the hitting of Juniata, who had their fourth worst hitting match of the season.  
 
Juniata (17-0, 5-0 Landmark) has now won 44 straight games and was led Audrey Muth with 11 kills, Olivia Foley with 38 assists and three different Eagles with 12 assists.
 
Juniata began set one with four straight points, but Mount Union battled back to a 6-4 deficit as Meister had three early kills. Juniata extended its lead to 19-11 before a 3-2 run from Mount Union which included kills from Bolen, Mercer and Leininger brought the score to 24-15. Juniata finished off the set the next point with a kill from Kennedy Christy.
 
Set two Juniata started out with the first three points but Mount Union settled in with three of the next four points as Meyer had two and Meister had a kill. The Raiders tied the game up at six with two straight errors from Juniata, however Juniata would find its legs and open up the lead to 13-7. Mount Union battled back with a 4-2 run with two more kills from Meyer and a kill from Leininger to get with four at 15-11 but Juniata finished off the set on a 10-4 run.
 
Set three looked to be going the way of the first two sets as Juniata led 8-2 but a 5-2 run by the Raiders brought the game within three at 10-7. Juniata pushed the lead out to 14-8 but a kill from Meister and junior outside hitter Heaven Bartell (Cleveland / St. Joseph Academy) got the score back within three at 14-11. Juniata extended the lead once again out to 18-12 but a 7-3 run from Mount Union brought the score to 21-19. Mount Union got within two once more at 23-21 but could not overcome the deficit dropping set three 25-21.
 
Mount Union will return to the floor tomorrow in Ohio Athletic Conference play heading to Bexley, Ohio to take on Capital at 1 PM.