MARIETTA, Ohio -- The Washington & Jefferson College volleyball team dropped a pair of competitive matches Friday afternoon at the BSN River City Classic, which was hosted by Marietta College in Ohio. The Presidents suffered a five-set setback to Kenyon College to open the day before falling in four sets to the host Pioneers in their final match of the day. 

Kenyon 3, W&J 2 (25-27, 25-22, 25-19, 21-25, 8-15)

Kenyon outlasted W&J to take the first set of the day by a 27-25 score. W&J responded with back-to-back set victories. The Presidents outpaced the Ladies by a 25-22 score in the second before adding a 25-19 victory in the third. W&J seemed poised to pick up its first win. However, Kenyon claimed the fourth set 25-21 and carried that momentum to a 15-8 win in the fifth set to take the match. 

Sophomore middle Lizzie Carmichael (Wyoming, Ohio/Wyoming) put together a strong effort in the opener. Carmichael recorded 12 kills with a .423 hitting percentage. She added three total blocks and a career-high seven service aces. Senior middle hitter Ashley Kovel (Everett, Pa./Everett) chipped in seven kills for W&J. Senior setter Alexis Tomassini (Gettysburg, Pa./Gettysburg) recorded 25 assists and three service aces. Freshman Kaitlyn DeLauter (Marysville, Ohio/North Union) tallied a team-best 20 digs while Gianna Platt (Pittsburgh, Pa./OLSH) was right behind with 19 digs. 

Marietta 3, W&J 1 (14-25, 25-23, 15-25, 22-25)

After dropping the first set to Marietta by a 25-14 score, W&J responded with a tight 25-23 victory in the second set, which evened the match. The Pioneers put away the match with a decisive 25-15 victory in the third set before earning a 25-22 win in the fourth set to eliminate hopes of a W&J comeback. 

Tomassini registered 21 assists and a match-high six service aces. Platt led W&J with nine digs against the Pioneers. Junior outside hitter Ashley Bertling (Berkley, Mich./Berkley) and sophomore outside hitter Jada Benning (San Antonio, Texas/Hayfield Secondary School (Va.) notched six kills apiece in the second match of the day.

W&J (0-3 overall) returns to the BSN River City Classic on Saturday for two more matches. The Presidents face Franklin College (Ind.) at 11 a.m. before facing Capital (Ohio) at 3 p.m.