HUNTINGDON, Pa.--Swarthmore College Volleyball slugged it out with No. 3 Juniata and No. 15 Ithaca in arguably the most challenging day on the 2019 schedule. The Garnet held their own and threatened to upset the No. 3 Juniata Eagles on their own court.

Swarthmore took Juniata to five sets, but fell 19-25, 25-22, 25-21, 20-25, 10-15. The Garnet then took the first set against Ithaca but dropped the match 25-19, 16-25, 17-25, 23-25.

Mehra den Braven led Swarthmore with 16 kills across the two matches. She earned a spot on the ASICS All-Tournament team.

Swarthmore 2, Juniata 3
After losing the first set to Juniata, Swarthmore rallied to take sets two and three. The Garnet led very early in the fourth set and stayed within six points of the Eagles but couldn't catch the Eagles late. In the fifth set, Swarthmore was the first to eight and led 8-7 following a kill by Chloe Mayhue. Another kill by Mayhue later in the set put Swarthmore within one, but Juniata took the final four points to clinch the match victory.

Swarthmore hit .085 for the match including an astounding .314 in the third set.

Mayhue and Emma Morgan-Bennett each finished with nine kills. Isabelle Andrews posted a team-high five blocks. 

Two freshmen recorded at least 20 digs in the match: Sierra Tyson (22) and Sarah Carrasco (20).

Swarthmore 1, Ithaca 3
The Garnet came out strong in the first set and hit .206 while limiting Ithaca's offense to a .061 hitting percentage. Four points in a row late in the first set helped Swarthmore take the game.

Swarthmore out-hit Ithaca .273 to .265 in the fourth set. Swarthmore took the lead at 23-22 following an Ithaca service error, but the Bombers scored the next three points to take the match.

Alyssa Nathan, Morgan-Bennett and den Braven all tallied six kills for Swarthmore. Andrews hit .444 with five kills and added four block assists.

Swarthmore plays at Widener on Wednesday in a 7 p.m. game.