YORK, Neb. — York (8-14, 2-6) lost to University of Saint Mary (12-13, 4-3) 3-0 on Saturday at Freeman Center. The Panthers were held to 23 kills and a .000 hitting percentage, while the Swedes finished with 37 kills and hit .250.
York stayed within a point midway through the first set when
Florencia Felmer put down a kill from
Meadow Nusbaum and followed with a service ace to make it 11-10. The Swedes later created separation after
Ambar Ortiz's ace made it 17-14, scoring the next four points to push the Panthers' deficit to 21-14. York added late points on a Felmer kill and two opponent attack errors before the Swedes closed the set 25-17.
The Panthers turned a 13-12 deficit into a 19-14 lead in the second set, winning seven of eight rallies behind consecutive
Jassania Joseph service aces and two
Ronan Merriex kills. The Swedes rallied late, moved ahead 21-20 and closed the set 25-22.
York opened the third set with
Tifenn Olivre's service ace and held a 4-3 edge, but the Swedes scored the next two points to move in front. After the Panthers pulled within 11-7 on
Florencia Felmer's kill, the Swedes scored four straight points to make it 15-7. York added kills from Joseph,
Emma Kerley and Merriex, but the Swedes finished the set 25-15.
Joseph led the Panthers with seven kills and 11 points, adding two service aces and four block assists.
Valentina Jimenez recorded a team-high nine digs and added two assists. Nusbaum finished with a team-best nine assists. Merriex added five kills on nine attacks while hitting .333.
Up next, York travels to McPherson, Kan., to face McPherson (Kan.) on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 7 p.m.
