CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Case Western Reserve University volleyball team saw its three-match win streak snapped at the hands of visiting University of Mount Union by a score of 3-2 in front of a raucous home-opener crowd at Horsburgh Gymnasium.

The Spartans (3-2) are back in action this weekend as co-hosts of the Marcia French Memorial Tournament on Friday and Saturday, September 9-10. Case plays four matches in two days starting with a 4:00 p.m. bout with Johns Hopkins University (Md.) on Friday.

Mount Union (4-1) won the opening set, 25-18, before the Spartans scored the final five points of the second set to win 25-23. The third set went back-and-forth before CWRU finally put the Raiders away, 28-26. Mount Union then forced the tiebreaker with a 25-21 victory in set four and clinched the match with a 15-5 win in set five.  

Senior middle hitter and reigning University Athletic Association Player of the Week Tricia McCutchan (Hamilton, Ohio/Stephen T. Badin) posted a double-double with a team-high 15 kills and 14 digs. Junior setter Breana Freeman (Geneva, Ohio/Geneva) paced the offense with 43 assists and contributed seven digs. Senior outside hitter Rachael Suchy (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township) and junior OH Allie Palmer (Avon Lake, Ohio/Avon Lake) each hit double-figures in kills with 12 and 11, respectively.

Suchy also aided the defense with a team-high tying 15 digs. Junior defensive specialist Kara Monnin (Minster, Ohio/Minster) and junior libero Rachel Gulasey (Cleveland, Ohio/Magnificat) checked in at 15 and 14, respectively.