RIVERDALE, NY (www.OLDWESTBURYPANTHERS.com) - The SUNY College at Old Westbury women's volleyball team were clipped in a five-set thriller by the Mount Saint Vincent Dolphins on Saturday morning in a Skyline Conference road showdown.  Following the decision, the Panthers (4-15) fell to 1-5 in conference play, while the Dolphins (6-15) improved to 4-3.

Senior Samantha Howley posted a career-high 28 digs in the hard fought defeat. Also from the back line, sophomore Allie Giancola and senior Jocelyn Small recorded 24 and 20 digs, respectively for the Panthers. Sophomore Rayn Brown led the Old Westbury attack with a team-high 19 kills and senior Kimberly Catania handed out 25 assists.

The two squads went round for round as they alternated set wins throughout the contest. The Dolphins took the opening set, 25-21, before Old Westbury evened the match in the second, 25-18.  The hosts took round three, 25-14, and once again the Panthers answered the call in the fourth with a 25-17 decision. In the fifth and decisive set, Small smacked a service ace to give Old Westbury a 4-2 advantage, however, a 9-3 Dolphins' surge, sparked the hosts to the victory, 15-11.

Sophomore Ashleigh Scozzari tied a match-high 19 kills for the Dolphins and added 20 digs. Freshman Maria Leineweber recorded a team-high 24 digs while sophomore Zana Daluz assisted on 33 winners for Mount Saint Vincent.

In the opening frame, the hosts turned a 10-5 deficit to a 16-11 lead fueled by an 11-1 spurt. Later in the set, the Panthers rallied to tie the set at 20 on consecutive kills by Catania and Brown and an attacking error by the Dolphins. Leineweber gave Mount Saint Vincent the lead back, 21-20, with a kill and Scozzari followed a Panthers' miscue, with three kills to close out the first set for the Dolphins, 25-21.

The Panthers collected 13 kills in the second to even the match at one-set all, 25-14. Old Westbury went on an 11-4 run to take a 17-7 advantage. Four different players contributed with kills during the stretch, and Small converted on back-to-back winners to finish the set. The Dolphins controlled the third set, as they jumped out to a 16-6 margin and won 25-14.

Old Westbury would not be denied in the fourth as they erased a 2-0 deficit to a 12-4 lead. Catania assisted on five Panthers kills during their streak. Brown was the recipient of four passes by Catania and Small was on the receiving end of the other pass. The hosts crawled back in the set and were within two, 15-13. Small followed with a winner to put the Panthers' up 16-13 and after both teams exchanged points, Brown closed the fourth set with three straight winners, 25-17, to force the fifth and decisive set.

YORK CARDINALS UP NEXT FOR PANTHERS ON SENIOR DAY: The Panthers look to snap their six-match losing streak when they host the York Cardinals on Tuesday (Oct. 22) from Clark Athletic Center. Prior to the 7 p.m. first-serve, the Panthers will honor seniors Kimberly Catania, Brittany Dara, Mudeline Derisma, Samantha Howley and Jocelyn Small at 6:45 p.m. for their contributions to the Old Westbury women's volleyball program.

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