NEW YORK — The Pratt Institute women's volleyball team closed its non-conference schedule Thursday evening, falling in straight sets to Baruch College, 25-23, 25-21, 25-18, at the Baruch College ARC Arena.

Pratt (6-8) commanded the opening set early, racing out to an 8-1 lead behind kills from Colleen Russell (Asbury, N.J.) and Jamie Shoemake (La Crescenta, Calif.) alongside two Zoe Broerman (Cincinnati, Ohio) aces. Emma Hwang (Dallas, Texas) later served four aces during a 7-0 surge to extend the cushion to 20-11 before Baruch (11-9) mounted a late comeback, eventually leveling the frame at 21-21. Joanna Doyle (Warren, N.H.) erased a set point at 24-22 with a kill, but the Bearcats secured the final point for a 25-23 win.

The Cannoneers seized early control again in the second set, using two Shoemake aces and a block by Russell and Kelsy Padilla (Brooklyn, N.Y.) to open an 8-2 lead. The Bearcats answered with a six-point run to take a brief 13-12 edge, but Pratt responded and later tied the score at 21-21 on a Doyle kill before Baruch scored the final four points to take the set, 25-21.

Pratt remained competitive in the third set, answering an early 3-0 deficit to claim leads of 6-5 and 7-6 on kills from Doyle and Russell. Baruch countered with an 8-2 run to pull ahead 14-9 and pushed the margin to 17-11 before Eden Shih (Manhattan, N.Y.) served three straight points to bring the Cannoneers within 17-14. Baruch extended its lead to reach match point at 24-17; Russell saved the first match point with a kill before the Bearcats finished off the sweep, 25-18.

Russell led the Cannoneers with eight kills, four total blocks (one solo block and three block assists), and two digs. Hwang orchestrated the offense with 12 assists, eight digs, and four aces. Doyle added four kills on .333 hitting, Shoemake contributed three kills, three aces, and a solo block, and Broerman picked up eight digs and two aces.

Pratt finished the match with 20 kills, 11 service aces, and five total blocks. Baruch hit .238 as a team with 31 kills, 14 service aces, and four total blocks.

Karolina Lundqvist led the Bearcats with nine kills on .421 hitting, while Maria Zecchinel contributed seven kills. Karen Pozo Castro distributed 21 assists and served five aces for the hosts.

Pratt opens Atlantic East Conference play against Gwynedd Mercy University at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, at Gwynedd Mercy University in Gwynedd Valley, Pa.