SCRANTON, PA – Kira Pirrera (Hauppauge/Smithtown West) recorded 21 kills to lead the Red Dragons, but the Cortland women's volleyball fell in four sets to Salisbury on Friday evening to begin play at the Scranton Invitational. Salisbury improves to 5-2, while Cortland drops to 4-3 on the year.
 
Pirrera's 21 kills came on a .294 attack percentage for Cortland, and Emalee Ballou (Eden) chipped in 10 kills and nine digs. Melissa O'Connor (Hauppauge) contributed 22 assists, 12 digs, and two service aces. Alyssa Rich (Rochester/Churchville-Chili) led Cortland with 22 digs, and Lauren Millspaugh (Trumansburg/Charles O. Dickerson) had seven kills on 17 attempts.
 
Kiley McTaggart had 14 kills to lead the Seagulls and Gwen Eustice had 11 kills and nine total blocks. Prudence Marco contributed a team-high 17 digs.
 
Cortland led 11-10 in the first set before Salisbury scored six of the next eight points, including two kills by McTaggart and a service by Marco. The Red Dragons eventually pulled to within a point at 20-19, but Salisbury won the final five points to take the set.
 
The Red Dragons jumped out to an 8-3 lead behind three kills by Pirrera and two kills and two aces by Ballou, as Cortland never trailed in the second set on the way to tying the match at a set apiece.
 
The Seagulls responded with a quick start in the fourth set, leading 15-8 early. Cortland closed to within three at 18-15 after a solo block by Millspaugh, but Salisbury won the next seven points to take a 2-1 advantage.
 
The Red Dragons used a kill by Pirrera and a service ace by Bianca Sapano (Floral Park/Kellenberg Memorial) to tie the score at 19-19 in the fourth set, but Salisbury immediately followed with a 6-0 run to close out the match.