BROOKLYN, N.Y. — The Pratt Institute women's volleyball team fell to Gwynedd Mercy University, 25-23, 25-20, 25-19, on Wednesday night in their final home game of the season at the Activity Resource Center.
Pratt (3-18, 0-6 Atlantic East) was led by Colleen Russell (Asbury, N.J.), who tallied 10 kills, seven digs and an ace. Jamie Shoemake (La Crescenta, Calif.) added six kills and a match-high three aces, and setter Eden Shih (Manhattan, N.Y.) dished 25 assists with nine digs. Joanna Doyle (Warren, N.H.) was efficient in the middle at .625 with five kills and two aces, while Maggie Hughes (Knoxville, Tenn.) chipped in seven kills, eight digs and two blocks. Kelsy Padilla (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and libero Gabriella Prieto (Amityville, N.Y.) steadied the back row, with Padilla adding five digs.
The Cannoneers made a late run in the opening set, using Shoemake's serve and a Russell ace to trim the margin before the Griffins took it 25-23. Pratt answered again in the second, piecing together a mid-set push highlighted by Doyle at the net and Shoemake on the line to get within 24-20, but a service ace closed the frame.
Gwynedd Mercy (7-15, 2-4) edged in front early in the third. Pratt strung together a late stretch behind Doyle's serve and back-to-back Shoemake kills to close the gap before the visitors finished 25-19.
Gwynedd Mercy was paced by Charlotte Pugh's 17 kills on .394 hitting, while Kate Etter added 13 kills and three aces. Ayanna Gaston handed out 31 assists and served three aces, and Annalise Kuppel collected 10 digs.
Pratt closes the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 8, visiting Centenary University at 1 p.m. in Hackettstown, N.J.
