CHICAGO – The Alverno volleyball team closed out the road portion of its 2019 season with a trip to Illinois Tech on Friday evening and dropped a three-set match by the scores of 25-11, 25-18, and 25-16.

The Scarlet Hawks stymied the Inferno offense, holding Alverno to just 15 kills on the match led by junior Neilee Newton and freshman Kierra Sherlock with five kills apiece. Junior Ari Rehberg added three kills, while sophomore Alex McMath also had two kills on the evening.

The Inferno had five aces with Newton leading the team with two on the night, while McMath led the team with nine assists. Junior Morgan Lemner had a team-best 14 digs, while sophomore Isabelle Gemza had seven digs. Alverno had three blocks overall on the night with a solo block by senior Melanie Coffey, and a pair of assisted blocks by both Newton and Rehberg.

After dropping the first set by a 25-11 margin, Alverno and Illinois Tech were locked in an evenly-matched second set as the teams were tied at six following a service ace by McMath. Over the first six points, Rehberg, Newton and Sherlock all had kills. The Inferno were able to keep the set close at the 12-9 mark before Illinois Tech scored three unanswered to take a six-point lead.

The Inferno went on a 7-4 run capped off by back-to-back kills by McMath and Sherlock to get the Inferno back within three at 19-16. However, the Scarlet Hawks closed out the set on a 6-2 run to pick up the two-set to none lead at 25-18.

Lemner started off the third set with a service ace, followed by a kill from Newton to put Alverno up by a 2-1 score. Newton and Sherlock, coupled with an unforced error by Illinois Tech put the Inferno back ahead at a 5-3 margin. A 14-3 run by the Scarlet Hawks gave the home team a 17-8 lead.

A late burst by Alverno in the third set fell short as a 7-3 run by the Inferno was answered by three straight by Illinois Tech as the Scarlet Hawks took the three-set victory.

Alverno (1-25, 0-11 NACC) will wrap up the season on Wednesday evening, as the Inferno host the Rockford Regents for a 7:30 p.m. start inside the Reiman Gymnasium.