ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. - The Rangers came ever so close to earning their second win in team history, but Eastern University rallied from a 2-0 deficit to hand Drew a 3-2 setback in its first match of the day on Saturday.

In its final match of the afternoon, Drew lost by a 3-1 count to host Elizabethtown College.

Against Eastern, the Rangers captured the opening sets 25-22 and 25-19 before the Eagles evened the match, winning 25-12 and 25-15. Eastern clinched it with a 15-7 victory in the tiebreaker. 

Drew ended the opening set with a big rally, using a 9-1 run to wipe out a 21-16 deficit. The Rangers carried their momentum into the second stanza and never looked back after starting on an 11-3 run. But after Eastern captured the next two sets, the Eagles led the entire way in the tiebreaker after starting on a 6-1 run.

It was the second straight five-set match for the Rangers, who were edged 3-2 at Saint Elizabeth University this past Wednesday.

Freshman Jacob Sledz led Drew versus Eastern, finishing with 19 kills, 12 digs, and three blocks. Sophomore Omarf Ortega-Reyes contributed nine kills, 10 digs, and three aces while freshman Huriel Perez distributed 39 assists. Classmate C.J. Addeo added four blocks.

After dropping the first two sets against Elizabethtown, 25-10 and 25-14, the Rangers found a spark in the third set, which they opened on a 10-4 run. Drew pushed its lead to 17-10 before the Blue Jays rallied with a 6-0 spurt. However, the Rangers outscored Etown 8-3 the rest of the way to earn a 25-19 victory. But the hosts clinched the match with a 25-19 set four victory.

Sledz paced Drew again versus Elizabethtown, posting 14 kills and seven digs. Freshman Ephraim Smith registered nine kills and five digs while Perez handed out 25 assists. 

The Rangers make their home debut on Friday, when they take on Mount Aloysius College at 7 p.m.