SHERMAN, Texas – The Ladies held late leads in each of the first two sets, but the Tornados rallied and held on in the third set as Centenary (0-1) fell to Concordia (1-1), 25-23, 25-23, 25-22 at the Austin College Invitational Friday afternoon, August 31.

The Ladies other scheduled match against Louisiana was canceled.

In her first collegiate match, freshman Rachel Demerjian recorded a double-double with 29 assists and 10 digs. Junior Marissa Sandoval added a match best 23 digs, while senior Shyann Pisano narrowly missed a double-double with 11 digs and seven kills. Senior Michaela Brantley hit .545, recording six kills on 11 swings.

The Ladies trailed 17-13 in the first set when Concordia made a service and an attack error. Later down 19-16, two more Tornado errors around a kill from Pisano tied the set. After both teams sided out, an ace by Pisano gave Centenary a 21-20 lead.

Tied at 23, a Ladies service error and a kill from Marissa Stinson gave Concordia the first set. Stinson finished with a match best 12 kills, hitting .500 (12 kills and one error on 22 swings).

The Ladies opened up a four-point lead in the middle of set two. Up 8-7, two kills from Pisano and an assisted block by Brantley and Pisano put Centenary up four. While Concordia fought back for a 20-19 lead, a Brantley kill and a setting error by the Tornados put the Ladies back in the lead. However, Concordia finished the frame on a 4-1 run to take its second-straight set by two.

Tied at three in the final set, Concordia scored six unanswered to take the lead for good. A Stinson kill put the Tornados' Kayley Plair on serve. A Plair kill and three aces, combined with a hitting error by Centenary, gave Concordia a 9-3 lead. Centenary scored 5-of-6 points to pull within 24-22, but a Stinson kill ended the match.

Centenary finishes the weekend Saturday afternoon, September 1, when it takes on Hendrix at 1 p.m. and Hardin-Simmons at 3 p.m.