WASHINGTON – CUA wrapped up action at the 14th annual CUA Guetle Invitational on Saturday by splitting a pair of matches.  The Cardinals fell to Marymount 3-1 in their opening match, before bouncing back to sweep Misericordia 3-0 in the nightcap.  CUA finished the weekend 3-1 at the tourney.

CUA fell to Marymount in the opener by scores of 25-22, 26-24, 21-25 and 25-13.  Game one was back-and-forth during the early going before Marymount opened up a 12-8 lead.

The Cardinals pulled to within 18-16, before the Saints extended their lead to 21-18, forcing a CUA timeout.  Following the stoppage, CUA battled back, pulling to within 22-21, before Marymount scored three of the next four points to earn the win.

Game two started out much like the first, with the teams remaining close during the early going.  After the teams were tied at seven, Marymount opened up a 13-9 lead and forced the Cardinals to call a timeout.

CUA continued to hang around, pulling even at 18, and again at 21.  The teams then traded points until the Saints scored two straight to win 26-24.

CUA jumped out quickly in game three, leading 4-0.  The lead then grew to 13-6, which forced the Saints to take a timeout.  The Cardinals were unfazed though, and opened up a 20-13 advantage.

CUA was then able to hold off any hope of a Marymount rally, and earned the game three win 25-21.

Marymount took an early 9-5 lead in game four, and soon after, extended to an 18-10 advantage.

CUA scored three of the next four points, but Marymount responded by scoring the final six to win the game and match.

Claudia Jean (27) and Kristina Purcell (22) led the Cardinals in digs, while Mariana Cruz handed out 35 assists.  Jean added 11 kills, with Kelly Crimmins totaling eight and Katie Chefalas and Audrey Bizak both finishing with six.

In the nightcap, CUA put together an impressive performance to sweep Misericordia in straight sets.  The Cardinals won by scores of 25-20, 25-11 and 25-19.

Game one was the tightest of the three games, with CUA leading 12-7 in the early going.  The Cardinals later extended to a 19-12 advantage and then wrapped things up by a score of 25-20.

In game two, CUA jumped out to an 11-4 lead, forcing Misericordia to call a timeout.  The Cardinals continued their success by opening up a 16-5 lead, which soon after became 23-9.  CUA then closed things out by a 25-11 count.

In the third and final set, CUA scored the first three points and six of the first eight.  After Misericordia pulled to within 7-6, CUA ripped off four straight to go on top 10-6.

The lead then swelled to 17-11, forcing another Misericordia timeout.  CUA stayed hot and ended things by a score of 25-19.

Jean finished with 18 digs this time around, with Chefalas (16) and Purcell (14) next in line. 

Freshman Fallon Foster handed out 18 assists and classmate Mariana Cruz added seven.

Following today's action, Purcell and Jean were named to the All-Tournament Team.  They were joined by Jordan Templin of Randolph, Stephanie Wood of Methodist, Cailin McCullion of Misericordia, Erin Allison of Marymount and Tournament MVP Jennifer Forbes of Marymount.

CUA returns to action on Wednesday evening when the Cardinals play host to McDaniel.  Start time is set for 7 p.m. from inside the DuFour Center.