WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sophomore Teeya Desgoutte posted a season-high .333 hitting percentage, but the Drew University women's volleyball lost by a 3-0 count at Catholic University in its Landmark Conference opener Friday evening.
 
The Cardinals won by scores of 25-21, 25-19, 25-15.
 
Desgoutte threw down a match-high 13 kills without making an error on 39 swings. She also scooped 12 digs for her seventh double-double of the season and her fourth in a row.
 
Sophomore Emily Shirk added a double-double of her own with 10 kills and 11 digs while classmate Abigail Pereira added seven kills. Freshman Alyssa Rachwal notched a double-double of 29 assists and 12 digs, and junior Lauren Gaza contributed a match-high 18 digs.
 
Halie Murphy led the Cardinals with 10 kills.
 
Desgoutte posted six of her kills in the opening set, the last of which gave the Rangers an 18-14 lead. However, that's when Catholic answered with a 7-1 run to reclaim the lead. A kill from Shirk tied the score at 21-all, but the Cardinals ended the set on a 4-0 spurt.
 
Catholic raced out to a 12-5 lead in the second set, but the Rangers played even for the rest of the stanza. However, the Cardinals were able to lead by at least six for the remainder of the period.
 
The hosts took control early in the third set, opening on a 5-0. However, the Rangers battled back to make it a 12-10 game following a 4-0 run that included a pair of Desgoutte kills. Drew still trailed by only three (17-14) late in the set before the Cardinals reeled off a decisive 7-0 run.
 
The Rangers are right back in Landmark Conference action on Saturday, when they visit Goucher College at 2 p.m.