Mary Baldwin opened its 2021 volleyball season Wednesday evening, losing to Shenandoah in three straight sets - 25-21, 25-17, 25-22 - in a non-conference contest. The match was the first for the Fighting Squirrels under first-year head coach Jody Lohr.

The visiting Hornets jumped out to a double-digit lead in the first set before the Fighting Squirrels rallied to pull within three points. A kill by MBU's Rachel Christian trimmed the SU lead to 21-18. The teams traded points until a kill from the back row by Shenandoah's Jillian Warter closed out the opening set 25-21.

The second set unfolded in a similar fashion as the Hornets jumped out to a 17-10 advantage. Once again, MBU fought back. A service ace by Christian and a kill by teammate Alexis Edmonds cut the Hornets' lead to three points, 19-16. The visitors closed the set with a 6-1 run to take a 2-0 lead with a 25-17 win.

Trailing 14-10 in the third set, MBU reeled off five straight points to take the lead, 15-14, with the go-ahead point coming on a service ace by Soleil Rios Rolon. Two kills by Jada Keene kept the Squirrels in the lead 17-16.

Shenandoah forged ahead, 23-20, but a kill by Christian and a net violation called against the Hornets made it a one-point game 23-22. The vistors then scored the next two points to close out the match.

MBU returns to action Saturday when they travel to Randolph College for a tri-match with host Randolph and Mid-Atlantic Christian.