AUSTIN, Texas – The St. John Fisher University women's volleyball team split its season-opening games on Friday, beating Lakeland 3-2 in the afternoon before falling 3-1 to host Austin College in the nightcap at Hughey Gym. 

Fisher (1-1) took the first set 25-12, while Lakeland won the second set 25-23 and the third set 25-18. The Cardinals tied the match with a 25-14 win in the fourth set and secured the victory with a 15-12 win in the fifth set. 

"It was great to start the season off with a comeback win," head coach Kelly Greapentrog said. "I thought we served really tough, we made some lineup changes that made a big difference in the match."

The Cardinals finished with a significant advantage from the service area, recording 22 aces to Lakeland's six. Reilly Morrow tallied six of them, while Isabella Mahar had five and Kaylene Noble four. 

Noble also paced the team in kills (14) and tied for second on the team in digs (10). Kiera Hartpence led Fisher with 12 digs. 

Morrow recorded a match-high 30 assists. Olivia Nellis had three; Hartpence added two. 

Nellis, Fisher's lone senior, led Fisher with three blocks. Morrow and freshman Lydia Fraser had two apiece. 

Game 2: Austin 3, St. John Fisher 1

Austin won the first (25-20), second  (27-25) and fourth sets (25-20) in a 3-1 victory in the second leg of Fisher's season-opening doubleheader. The Cardinals claimed the third set, 25-20. 

Ana Gutman (11 kills), Kiera Hartpence (three aces, 17 digs), Madalyn Bouton (four blocks) and Reilly Morrow (44 assists) led Fisher in the match. 

Up Next

The Cardinals face McMurry University at 11 a.m. and the University of Dallas at 1 p.m. on Saturday in Irving, Texas.