Washington, DC (September 23, 2016) - The DeSales University volleyball team dropped back-to-back matches on day one of the Worthington Classic hosted by Gallaudet University on Friday evening falling to both Marymount University and Messiah College.

Match #1 (vs. Marymount, L/3-0)
Marymount was able to avenge an earlier season loss to the Bulldogs winning 25-20, 25-14, 25-20.  DSU hit just .107 for the match and was led by sophomore Gabby Savite` who had 11 kills and 12 digs.  Sophomore Natalie Gray finished with 15 digs, sophomore Tanesia Rehrig added 11 digs, and senior Lisa Wallitsch totaled 26 assists and 12 digs in the loss.

Match #2 (vs. Messiah, L/3-1)
The Bulldogs dropped an extremely tight match with Messiah College jumping out to a big lead in the first set and continued to lead 21-15 before Messiah charged back to take the first set, 28-26.  DSU rallied for a 26-24 win in the second set, but the Falcons cruised in the third set, 25-14, and won another tight one (26-24) in the fourth to close out the four-set win.

Savite` again led the way with 26 kills and a .247 hitting percentage.  Freshman Morghan Shoemaker added nine kills and hit .412 in the loss.  Wallitsch finished with 44 assists, Gray had 35 digs, and freshman Cristal Fernandez added 13 digs in the loss.

The Bulldogs are right back to action tomorrow for day two of the tournament when they face Wesley College and Gallaudet University in the day two matches.