Lynchburg, Va. -- The Hornets Volleyball team left everything on the court Wednesday night and despite the valiant effort the ladies fell to #22 Mary Washington, 3-2 (23-25, 25-13, 22-25, 25-23, 15-11).

The Hornets came out in the first set with an energy that the Eagles were not expecting and took the lead 19-14 before Mary Washington had to call a timeout to gain their composure.  An ace by freshman Disa Haugsdahl made it 22-15 but a short run helped the Eagles climb back to within one. An emphatic kill by junior Mesa Willis and set-winning kill by senior Jen Garrett helped Lynchburg claim the first set.

The Eagles proved why they are nationally-ranked in the second set as they smashed 15 kills with only three errors and held the Hornets to six kills, taking the set and drawing even with Lynchburg.

Junior Lynn Walsh rattled off five straight service points to begin the third set which was a back and forth affair highlighted by kills from both sides. Garrett and sophmore Amelia Dalton had six kills each in the set while Willis and junior Amanda Wrightson partnered up for three block assists, helping the Hornets snatch the third set and the lead.

The lead traded hands multiple times in the fourth set and the power of Garrett helped keep the Hornets in the set. Going back and forth late in the set, the two teams were diving around making spectacular saves and keeping plays alive but a kill by Samantha Powers gave Mary Washington the set and sent the match to a fifth set.

The Eagles jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead before Head Coach Elizabeth Ellinger had to calm her team down with a timeout. A run of kills for the Hornets and errors by the Eagles brought Lynchburg back to within two at 8-6. Crucial kills by Haugsdahl and Dalton keep the Hornets close enough to give the Mary Washington team worry but the Eagles were able to get kills at the right time and escape with the fifth set.

Freshman Lauren Stanford led the Hornets with 20 digs while freshman Ragan Rudisill added 11. Garrett collected 17 digs and posted another game with at least 20 kills, smashing 20 in the hard fought loss. Walsh collceted 28 assists and freshman Erin Farina finished with 15. Willis and Dalton also tallied 11 kills each

With the loss the Hornets drop to 9-4 on the season while the Eagles move to 11-1. The Hornets will be back in action next Friday, Sept. 30 when they head down Interstate 81 to Emory & Henry for a tilt with the Wasps at 6:00 pm. Lynchburg returns to Turner Gymnasium when they host Eastern Mennonite on Tuesday, Oct. 4th at 6:30 pm.