ARLINGTON, Va. – The Marymount (Va.) University women's volleyball team battled a tough Stevenson University squad at the Verizon Sports Arena on Tuesday night. Junior Emileigh Rettig racked up a match-high 14 kills for the Saints, but they fell short 3-0 (22-25, 19-25, 24-26) to the Mustangs in the season opener. 

Stevenson (1-0) jumped out with an early lead in the first set, but the Saints (0-1) battled back and tied the score twice throughout the set. Rettig led the offense with four kills and also contributed four digs on the defensive end. Senior Courtney Phung led both teams with a match-high eight digs. The Mustangs ended the set at 25-22 after back-to-back kills from Annika Schwartz and Kristen Brooks. 

The second set started with an impressive 3-0 run by Marymount after two kills from freshman Caroline Hanson and junior Cailyn Thomas and an ace by senior Morgan McAlpin. Marymount kept the lead until Stevenson tied the game at 6-6. Both teams battled back-and-forth until they tied again at 14-14. Stevenson then went on a 6-0 run and remained ahead until the set ended at 25-19. Rettig led both teams in kills with five in the set. 

Marymount came out swinging in the third set with a kill by Rettig, who was assisted by sophomore Ashley Cabrera. The score rocked back-and-forth once again with nine times the score drew even throughout the set. The Saints biggest lead came at 16-11 after several small runs. As Marymount led at 22-19, Stevenson was forced to take their final timeout before tying the score at 24-24 when Marymount took its final timeout. Rettig and sophomore Margaret McAlpin combined for nine out of the 15 kills for the Saints. 

Rettig led the team with 14 kills, followed by Margaret and Thomas with five a piece. Hanson and sophomore Christine Tieman combined for 26 assists. Morgan led both teams in blocks with six on the match. 

Stevenson's Kristen Brooks led her squad with 11 kills, and Sara Bollinger added 35 assists. 

The women will head on the road for their first tournament on the season at Rowan University. The Saints will start off the two-day tournament against the Profs on Friday, September 4 at 4 p.m.