MANCHESTER, N.H. (Oct. 9, 2002) - The Franklin Pierce University volleyball team suffered a heartbreaking loss to intra-state rivals, Southern New Hampshire University, 3-2, in Northeast-10 Conference volleyball action this evening at the SNHU Fieldhouse.

The Ravens were led by senior Mandy Johnson (Orange, Mass./Maher Regional) who posted a match-high 21 kills, 17 digs and six aces. Sophomore Briana Bates (Belmont, N.H./Endicott College) followed with a season-best 18 kills, while senior Catrina Cuevas (Aurora, Colo./J.I. O'Neill (N.Y.)) registered 18 assists and 16 digs.

Freshman Brittany Porter led the Penwomen with 17 kills and three blocks. Classmate Deanna Guenther also tallied 17 kills to go along with a team-high 17 digs and five aces. Sophomore Lauren Enny totaled nine kills, seven digs and six aces in the win, while classmate Lise Laczek recorded five kills, five aces and 14 digs.

In game one, Franklin Pierce came back from a 27-23 deficit to knot the game 27-27 and eventually pull ahead to clinch a 30-28 victory. In game two, the Penwomen fought back and used two seven-point rallies to secure a 30-18 victory and tie the match at one game apiece.

After dropping game three 30-25, the Ravens built a solid 29-21 lead in game four, but Southern New Hampshire recorded four unanswered points to close the gap. Just as the Penwomen were about to close in on the Ravens, Cuevas posted an unassisted kill to send the match into the fifth and deciding game.

The Penwomen rode the momentum of a four-point rally in game five to seal a 15-10 victory and take the match, 3-2.

Franklin Pierce (8-8, 3-6 NE-10) returns to the court on Tuesday when it travels to Merrimack for a Conference match at 7 p.m. Southern New Hampshire (7-8, 4-6 NE-10) next travels to Green Mountain College on Saturday for a non-conference match at 1 p.m.