WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Catholic University women's volleyball team fell in straight sets to Mary Washington on Wednesday night despite strong efforts from senior Brittany Connatser and junior Sydney Sheppard. 

Connatser was strong in attack for the Cardinals, tallying 12 kills to lead the offense. Connatser hit .176 for the match and added two digs and a block as well. Sheppard handed out assists on 25 of the team's 32 kills, added eight digs, and got up at the net for a block assist as well. Freshman Izzy Steinberg wore the libero jersey for two the match's three sets, leading the team with 15 digs. 

The Eagles took the first set by a score of 25-17, hitting .163 to the Cardinals' .042. Catholic trailed just 9-8 after a Mary Washington attack error, but the Eagles took nine of the next 12 points to jump out to an 18-11 lead. Mary Washington fell out of sorts on the attack, totaling four attack errors in five points to let the Cardinals back in, making it 19-15 before winning the set. 

In the second set, Mary Washington jumped ahead 10-4 before the Cardinals rallied to cut the deficit to 13-12 after an 8-3 run. Junior Olivia Blondin, sophomore Grace Guerin, and Connatser all tallied kills during the run for Catholic. A kill by freshman Erin Faughnan tied the set for the Cardinals at 14-14. Both teams traded back-and-forth as a kill from freshman Halie Murphy made it 17-17, but Mary Washington took the next four points. Kills from Blondin and Connatser cut the deficit back to three, but the Eagles took the set 25-20. 

A resilient Catholic bunch fought hard in the third set before falling into a deep deficit at 16-3. Catholic rallied it all the way back to a seven-point set, before ultimately falling 25-17. 

Murphy chipped in with seven kills, hitting .192 for the match. Blondin had five kills and 14 digs in the match for Catholic. 

Krista Rogers led the way for Mary Washington, hitting an outstanding .542 to tally 14 kills. Libero Dakota Hansen had 19 digs while Jordan Lyons had 17 to go with eight kills. 

Catholic returns to Franny Murray Court on Friday at 7 p.m. as they host St. Mary's (Md.).