SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – The Gators dropped a pair of matches on Wittenberg's Homecoming Saturday, falling to the hosting Tigers before a non-conference loss to Marietta at Pam Evans Smith Arena.

Sophomore Bailey Gawley picked up 18 kills over the two-game schedule, including a weekend-high 12 kills against Marietta in the Gators' second game of the afternoon.  Freshman Leah Franzluebbers registered six total block assists, including four against Marietta, while racking up five kills against Wittenberg. 

Gator first years Terra Schall and Kylee Karczewski both posted collegiate career-highs in digs against the Pioneers, as Schall recorded a team-high 34 digs at libero and Karczewski picked up 24 digs.  Freshman Justine Kelly added 35 assists against Marietta.

Wittenberg picked up an 8-2 lead in the first set over the Gators, building the lead to 12-4 midway through the set.  Despite a three-point swing to cut the Tiger lead to five, Wittenberg closed the first set on a 13-5 run to take the first set, 25-12.  The two squads played a near-identical second set, as Allegheny cut the deficit to four points once again before a strong run by Wittenberg, a 10-1 swing in the second set, gave the Tigers a 2-0 lead, 25-12. 

Allegheny pushed Wittenberg to the brink in the third set, as the two squads battled back and forth.  A block by Franzluebbers and fellow first year Morgan Bush put the Gators up, 5-2, but a three-point push by the Tigers tied the set.  Trailing, 17-14, the Gators made a three point run to cut the deficit to one point, but Wittenberg picked up the next four points to take a 20-16 advantage. 

The squad brought the Wittenberg lead to one twice down the stretch, first at 21-20 after a kill from Gawley and the second following a bad set from the Tigers at 24-23, but the Gators were unable to close out the rally after a match-ending kill by the Tigers.

Against the Pioneers, the Gators picked up a 12-6 lead in the first, but a seven-point run by Marietta allowed the Pioneers to take the first set advantage, as they would eventually clinch set one, 25-20.  The Pioneers jumped out to a 5-2 lead in the second as the two squads continued to battle back-and-forth until the Gators built a 23-19 lead.  Freshman Christa Cash clinched the set for the Gators with a service ace, giving the Blue and Gold a 25-22, second-set victory. Marietta returned from the second-set loss with 25-12 and 25-16 wins in the third and fourth set, respectively, to clinch the match.

The Gators will close the NCAC slate at home on Wednesday against Wooster before welcoming Carnegie Mellon to the David V. Wise Center on Nov. 1 for Senior Day.