The Lancaster Bible women's volleyball team opened its 2015 campaign with a 3-0 loss to Messiah on Tuesday night in Grantham, Pa. The Falcons won, 25-19, 25-11, 25-17 and improved to 6-0 all-time against the Chargers. 

After falling behind 7-1 in the first set, the Chargers stormed back to tie the opening set at 12-12 and eventually take a 15-13 lead. Lancaster Bible's defense got them back into the set, as did the hitting of Hannah Gipe and Myranda Kemrer. Messiah regained its composure and evened the set at 16-16 and then won 10 of the final 13 points to take the first set, 25-19. 

The Falcons flexed their muscles in the second set and overpowered the Chargers, 25-11, but Lancaster Bible hung tough and though the Chargers didn't lead in the third set, they played much better before falling, 25-17.

"I thought we played really well in the first set and surprised them a little bit," Lancaster Bible Head Coach Lauren Bewley said. "We played pretty well in the final two sets too, but we need to compete just a little harder and string points together. We need to work on some things obviously with this only being our first match, but there is a lot of potential with this group."

Kemrer led the Chargers with seven kills, while Gipe and Lauren Grimm each added three kills. Senior Hannah Derr led the way with 15 assists, while fellow senior Grace Scheuerman had a team-high 11 digs. 

Lancaster Bible returns to the court this Friday and Saturday as they take part once again in the Crosstown Crossover with Elizabethtown, Franklin & Marshall and Penn St. Berks. The Chargers will host Elizabethtown on Friday night at 7 p.m. and take on the Diplomats and Nittany Lions on Saturday in Reading, Pa.

Notes:
-This is the start of Bewley's 10th season as the head coach of the Chargers.

-This is the 30th year of women's volleyball at Lancaster Bible College.

-The Chargers are now 10-18 in season opening matches (Records from 1999 and 2000 are incomplete)