ARLINGTON, Va. – The Centenary University volleyball team opened Atlantic East Conference play with a pair of hard fought losses in a tri-match at Marymount University on Saturday.

Alyssa Bizzarro and Kim Stallworth each posted a double-double to lead the Cyclones in a tough 3-1 loss to Gwynedd Mercy. Stallworth added 10 digs in a 3-0 loss to the host Saints.

Gwynedd Mercy Recap:
Back-to-back service aces from Vanessa Pagano allowed the Cyclones to open up an 8-4 lead in set one versus the Griffins. The two teams traded points as a kill from Allison Dombrowski pulled the Cyclones to within one, 17-16. Centenary eventually took the first set 25-23 on a kill from Mya Burnett.

Centenary quickly jumped out to a 4-0 lead in set two on three straight kills from Burnett. A pair of kills from Aybria Purnell gave Gwynedd Mercy a 12-10 edge. The two teams went back-and-forth before an attack error by the Cyclones gave the Griffins a 25-16 set win and tied the match.

A 6-0 run gave Gwynedd Mercy an 18-9 advantage in the third set. A kill from Purnell allowed Gwynedd Mercy to secure the 25-12 set win and a 2-1 lead in the match.

Centenary tied the fourth set at 9-9 on a kill from Jessica Simpson. Gwynedd Mercy responded by scoring five of the next six points and grabbed a 14-10 advantage. A kill from Bizzarro tied the set at 17-17. The two teams continued to battle on both sides of the net before a Centenary attack error gave Gwynedd a 25-22 set win and the match.

Bizzarro had 11 kills and 13 digs for the Cyclones while Stallworth dished out 16 assists to go along with 14 digs. Burnett had a team-high 12 kills while Martina Josifoska added 14 digs.

Purnell led all players with 29 kills in the contest.

Marymount Recap:
Hitting percentage proved to be the difference in the second match of the day for the Cyclones. Marymount hit .321 en route to a 25-14, 25-11 and 25-8 win over Centenary. The Saints held the Cyclones to a -.076 hitting percentage for the contest.

Burnett had seven kills for the Cyclones in this one while Bizzarro added three kills and seven digs. Stallworth contributed 10 digs and four assists while Pagano had five helpers.

Elissa Munsterman led Marymount with 11 kills while Alexis Franklin had 17 assists.

Centenary is back in action on Thursday, Oct. 6 when it travels to Manor College for a 7 p.m. match.