MADISON, N.J. – The Drew University women's volleyball team battled the United States Merchant Marine Academy in a tight match, but dropped a 3-0 decision to the Mariners in a non-conference tilt Wednesday evening.
 
Merchant Marine won by scores of 25-22, 28-26, and 27-25.
 
Senior Emily Shirk paced the Rangers with 11 kills while classmate Abigail Pereira and sophomore Skyler Ribitzki added five kills each. Junior Alyssa Rachwal posted a double-double of 31 assists and 13 digs, and sophomore Aidyn Stone scooped a season-high 20 digs.
 
In the opening set, the Rangers trailed 20-15 before storming back with a 6-0 run to take the lead. After a 3-0 Mariner run put the visitors in front, a kill from Ribitzki cut the deficit to 23-22. However, that's when Merchant Marine scored the last two points of the set.
 
Drew was four points from a victory in the second set when it led 21-18, but that's when Merchant Marine used a 6-2 run to go up 24-23. The Rangers twice served for the set win down the stretch, the last time coming after a kill from Shirk made it 26-25, but the Mariners closed the set with a 3-0 surge.
 
The Rangers led 21-18 again in the third set before a 4-1 spurt from USMMA tied it at 22-apiece. The visitors were twice serving for the match, but sophomore Lindsey Millis twice kept the Rangers alive with a kill, the second time occurring when it was 25-25. But the Mariners clinched the victory with the final two points.
 
Drew continues its season on Friday on the opening day of the Kean Invitational. The Rangers face Hunter College at 6 p.m. and Salisbury University at 8 p.m.