BUFFALO, N.Y. — D'Youville (15-13, 8-4 ECC) pushed conference-leading Mercy (24-1, 12-0 ECC) to five sets on Sunday at Saints Center Gym before falling 3-2. The Saints battled back to even the match at two sets apiece, highlighted by a 10-point comeback in the fourth set. Set scores were 16-25, 26-24, 19-25, 25-22 and 8-15.
Cameron Ulinski led the Saints with 18 kills and 18 points, setting a new D'Youville single-season program record for kills in a season. Madeline O'Brien added 11 kills, while Ashley Ballou recorded 36 assists, 18 digs and five total blocks. Giselle Ramirez contributed six kills and four total blocks.
After dropping the opening set, D'Youville responded in the second. The Saints erased an early deficit and took a 15-13 lead behind kills from Maddie Boglev and Ulinski. With the score tied at 24-24 late in the set, a Mercy attack error and an ace from Angelyn Jaramillo gave D'Youville the 26-24 win to even the match.
Mercy regained the lead with a 25-19 third-set victory, but the Saints answered with their strongest stretch of the afternoon in the fourth. Trailing 20-14, D'Youville put together a six-point run to tie the set at 20-20. O'Brien and Ramirez contributed kills during the rally, while Ramirez also helped fuel the defensive effort at the net. An O'Brien service ace gave the Saints a 22-21 advantage, and a Ballou block sealed the 25-22 set victory.
In the deciding fifth set, Ulinski recorded six kills, with Ballou assisting on each. Ulinski's final kill brought the Saints within two at 10-8, but Mercy closed the match with five consecutive points to secure the 15-8 set win.
Mercy finished with 53 kills and a .188 hitting percentage, while D'Youville totaled 48 kills. The Saints also recorded nine blocks and four service aces.
Up next: D'Youville will compete in the ECC Championships on Saturday, Nov. 14.
