MADISON, N.J. – The Drew University women's volleyball team faced DeSales University and Montclair State University in a home tri-match on Saturday in Baldwin Gym.
 
The Rangers opened the day with a 3-1 loss to DeSales, with the Bulldogs winning 24-26, 25-19, 25-23, 25-23. Then in the final match of the day, Montclair State won by scores of 25-22, 25-15, 21-25, 25-14.
 
Against DeSales, senior Emily Shirk posted 15 kills and eight digs while sophomore Lindsey Millis registered 14 kills and 11 digs. Senior Inaya Stanford contributed eight kills while junior Alyssa Rachwal distributed 30 assists. Junior Aidyn Stone added a career-high-tying 22 digs.
 
The Rangers put up a valiant effort in the final set, nearly rallying from a big deficit to force a deciding fifth set. DeSales opened on a 7-0 run and eventually led 17-5. However, the Rangers refused to go quietly and cut the gap to five (18-13) following an 8-1 run. The Bulldogs used a late surge to go up 24-17, but Drew came back with a 6-0 run to pull to within a point before DeSales clinched the match with a kill.
 
Millis notched 12 kills and eight digs against Montclair State, which improved to 10-3 with the win. Shirk registered 10 kill and seven digs, and Rachwal dished out 31 assists. Freshman Coco Otto contributed eight digs, and sophomore Skyler Ribitzki threw down four blocks. Stanford and senior Marissa Guajardo added three blocks apiece for the Rangers.
 
Drew turned in a big comeback versus the Red Hawks as well. Trailing 17-8 in the third set, the Rangers closed with a 17-4 run to stay alive. Millis and Shirk posted four kills during the stretch while Stanford added a pair of kills and Ribitzki contributed two blocks.
 
The Rangers continue their season on Friday, when they host No. 8-ranked Juniata College at 6 p.m. in their Landmark Conference opener.