LANCASTER, Pa. - The Catholic University volleyball team opened its 2021 season on Friday night with a 25-20, 25-18, 23-25, 25-14 loss to York (Pa.) in a non-conference contest at Franklin & Marshall's Mayser Gymnasium.

The Cardinals (0-1) were limited by 26 attack, nine service and nine reception errors.

A total of 11 players saw action, including nine who were officially making their collegiate debuts. Friday also marked the collegiate head coaching debut for Heather Stout was named head coach at Catholic on June 5, 2020.

Junior Brittany Connatser, a transfer from Northern Virginia Community College, led the team with 13 kills in her Cardinal debut while posting a .310 hitting percentage. Five of her first 10 swings went down before she added eight kills over the final two sets.

The lone players with prior experience, senior Caroline Kelly and junior Mackenzie Collier, combined for 29 digs and four assists. Collier also added four kills in her first game action since Oct. 31, 2018 after missing the entire 2019 season due to injury.

The Spartans (1-0) jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a strong first two sets in which they only trailed once, 2-1 in the first.

The Cardinals avoided the sweep, rallying from a 12-10 deficit and battling through nine ties and three lead changes to win the third set. With the set tied at 22-22, Connatser picked up her fifth kill of the set before Catholic sealed the win after back-to-back errors by the Spartans.

The fourth set was back-and-forth, featuring five ties and two lead changes, before five consecutive points gave York a 9-5 lead which it would not relinquish.

Freshman Mya Sullivan totaled two kills, 17 assists, five digs and two block assists while sophomore Olivia Blondin had six kills and four digs. Sophomore Gaby Hernandez-Ferraiuoli added 13 digs.

The Cardinals return to action with two matches at York on Saturday against Franklin & Marshall at 11 a.m. and Oberlin at 1 p.m. Live video for both matches is available on CatholicAthletics.com.