UNION, N.J. – The Drew University women's volleyball team took on a pair of strong opponents in a tri-match at Kean University on Saturday.
 
The Rangers opened with a 3-0 loss to the host Cougars, who entered the day with a 14-10 record. Drew took a set from York (Pa.) College, but the Spartans, who entered with a 17-9 mark, prevailed 3-1.
 
Kean won by scores of 25-10, 26-24, and 25-17. Sophomore Abigail Pereira paced the Rangers with seven kills while classmate Teeya Desgoutte posted six kills and eight digs. Freshman Alyssa Rachwal handed out 14 assists, and junior Lauren Gaza totaled 15 digs and a pair of aces.
 
In an exciting second set, the Rangers trailed 22-18 before putting together a stirring rally. Drew scored six unanswered points, which included a pair of Desgoutte kills, and served for set point, but Kean ended the set on a 4-0 run.
 
Against York, the Spartans won by scores of 25-23, 25-19, 23-25, 25-17.
 
Desgoutte paced the Rangers with 11 kills and nine digs while Pereira threw down eight kills. Rachwal handed out 31 assists, and 34 digs and six aces. Sophomore Emily Shirk contributed six kills and 15 digs.
 
After falling behind 2-0, Drew used a strong start to gain the upper hand early versus the Spartans, opening on a 12-5 run. But York came all the way back to tie it at 16-16 before taking the lead at 19-18. However, that's when the Rangers used a 6-1 run, which included kills from Shirk, Desgoutte, and sophomore Marissa Guajardo, to assume a 24-20 lead. York threatened with a 3-0 surge, but Desgoutte ended the set with a kill.
 
The Spartans outscored the Rangers 15-9 to start the fourth set and led by at least five the rest of the way.
 
Drew closes out the regular season with four home non-conference matches, starting on Wednesday at 7 p.m. versus New Paltz.