Riverdale, N.Y. – After dropping the first two sets on Tuesday night, the College of Mount Saint Vincent rallied to knot the match at 2-2 before eventually falling to Skyline Conference leader Sage by scores of 14-25, 22-25, 25-16, 25-18 and 13-15. Freshman Ashleigh Scozzari (New Rochelle, N.Y.) was one of two Dolphins with at least 10 kills and also led all players with a career-high seven total blocks.
 
After a sluggish start that saw the Mount hit just .061 in the first two sets, the Dolphins rallied to get back into the match in the third. After jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the frame, the Mount never trailed in the set and used a 5-1 run, sparked by a pair of Scozzari kills, to get back to within 2-1.
 
In the fourth set, Mount Saint Vincent used a 5-0 spurt to overcome a 6-5 deficit to take a lead it would not relinquish. Morganne Booker (East Providence, R.I.) put away three kills over the run and freshman Allison Regan (Carmel, N.Y.) picked up a pair of service aces.
 
The Gators would get to within 19-15 late in the set, but two more aces from Regan and a Scozzari kill led a 6-3 run to close the set and bring the Dolphins back even at two sets apiece.
 
The Mount carried the momentum from the third and fourth sets into the fifth when it jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead on the strength of two Sage miscues. The Gators then ripped off six of the next seven points in the match, keyed by a kill and a service ace from Kelsey Ray.
 
Mount Saint Vincent would rally to within a point four times in the deciding set, but Sage answered each time, including two quick points out of a timeout to jump in front 14-11. Helen Putriment picked up kills for both points and Mickey Mango put the match away with a winner down the far sideline for the Gators.
 
Putriment led all players in the match with 19 kills for Sage and also lifted 20 digs. Ray put away 11 winners for the visitors, while Morgan Robinson finished the night with nine kills and 15 digs. Joanie Cooney had a strong all-around match for Sage with 43 assists and 19 digs.
 
Booker led the Mount Saint Vincent offensive charge on Tuesday with a team-high 12 kills to go along with five digs and a pair of total blocks. Erika Moncada (Yonkers, N.Y.), Regan and Kristine DeMasi (Brooklyn, N.Y.) each finished the night with six kills for the Mount.
 
Scozzari continued her strong rookie campaign after notching double-figures in kills for the sixth time this season with her 10. Six of her seven blocks in the match were solos and she now leads the Dolphins in kills with 95 and is tied for the team lead in total blocks with 26.
 
Carly Jenkinson (Pacifica, Calif.) led all players with 24 digs in the contest, with DeMasi lifting 22. Moncada picked up 16 digs for the Dolphins and Zana Daluz (Pawtucket, R.I.) closed out a double-double effort with 17 digs and 33 assists.
 
For the match, Sage finished with 53 kills to 43 for the Mount and the Dolphins lifted 97 digs to 89 for the Gators. Mount Saint Vincent also finished the match with 10 aces, led by seven from Regan, and a 9-1 advantage in total team blocks.
 
The loss is Mount Saint Vincent's third straight and drops it to 5-6 overall on the season and to 1-3 in Skyline Conference play. The Dolphins will be back on the court again on Friday when they travel to league rival Purchase. The match with the Panthers is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.