ALLIANCE, Ohio—Mount Union's Volleyball team began the season with two hard fought loses to Ohio Wesleyan and Albion, who is receiving votes in the top 25 poll, Friday night.
 
In the first match of the season Mount Union (0-2) fell to Ohio Wesleyan (2-0) 14-25, 23-25, 25-17 and 23-25. Juniors Heaven Bartell (Cleveland / St. Joseph Academy) and Darby Leininger (Chardon / Beaumont) had double digit kills with 14 and 10 respectively.
 
Mount Union debuted its new duo setters with freshman Melissa Hansen (Hudson) and junior Casey Kildow (Bethesda / Union Local) had 18 and 17 assists in the match.
 
Mount Union had five ladies tally 10+ digs with freshman Averi Haley (Orrville) leading the team with 19, Hansen had 13, senior Adrian Petrisko (Elyria) had 12, Bartell finished her double-double match with 11 digs and junior Katelyn Lesko (Mineral Ridge) had 10 digs.
 
Ohio Wesleyan was led by Melissa Murray with 19 kills, Olivia Osuna with 40 assists and Kaitlyn Peters with 30 digs.
 
The second match saw a five set battle where Mount Union fell 25-19, 24-26, 17-25, 25-23 and 11-15 to Albion (2-0) who was receiving votes in the AVCA Top 25 poll.
 
Once again Bartell finished with a double-double with 19 kills and 16 digs in the game. Sophomore Sydney Mercer (Salem / West Branch) and senior Maddie Wentz (Akron / Hoban) finished with 13 and 12 kills.
 
Kildow finished with 26 assists while Hansen picked up 20 in the match.
 
Haley dug out 28 balls in the match with Petrisko and Hansen both going over double digits with 12 and 11.
 
Albion was led by Olivia Alexander with 19 kills, Mariah Brenz with 45 assists and Alexander with 18 digs.
 
Mount Union will conclude its invitational with a match up against Buffalo St. at 10 am and SUNY Brockport at 2 pm on Saturday.