SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of Scranton volleyball team (3-4) dropped a 3-0 decision to the Texas Lutheran Bulldogs (9-3) on day one of action at the Trinity Invitational in San Antonio on Friday evening.

After a kill from freshman Deanna Whelpley (Congers, N.Y./Immaculate Heart Academy) that cut the lead to 3-2, the Bulldogs were able to tally the next six points to open a 9-2 advantage and ultimately picked up a 25-13 victory in set one as Scranton was unable to get any closer than eight the rest of the set.

In the second set, a service ace by sophomore Sophia Hadjiyane (Huntington, N.Y./John Glenn) brought the Royals within three at 9-6 before Texas Lutheran took eight of the next 11 points to take a 17-9 lead and eventually picked up a 25-11 win.

Scranton battled throughout the third set and consecutive attack errors from the Bulldogs cut the lead to three at 15-12, but the Bulldogs took the next four points to extend the lead to seven. Despite a late rally from the Royals including a Whelpley kill that cut the lead to 21-18, Texas Lutheran hold on for the victory.

Junior Stephanie Margolies (Westfield, N.Y./Westfield) paced the Royals attack with nine kills in the match and senior Caileigh Cox (Randolph, N.J./Randolph) added 14 assists to go along with six digs.

Freshman Maddie Forry (Reading, Pa./Exeter Township) led the way for Scranton with 12 digs.

Head coach Jamie Spangler's team will take on Southwestern (Tex.) and Trinity (Tex.) on Saturday with matches at 2:15 and 7:00 p.m. Eastern.

--ROYALS--