PHILADELPHIA, Pa. --- The Delaware State volleyball team got off to a slow start, but was much more competitive in the last two sets of a 3-0 loss to La Salle at Tom Gola Arena.

The Explorers cruised to a 25-8 win in the first set. The Hornets battled to a 25-17 loss to set two, and made their hosts work overtime in a 27-25 setback in the final set.

La Salle’s Bryanna Davis led all players with nine kills, while teammate Laura Kulmeier had eight.

Nevershi Ellis had a team-high eight kills for the Hornets. DSU’s Alliyah McBean recorded a match-high 15 digs.

In the first set, La Salle scored the first eight points and never looked back.

The Hornets scored seven of the last nine points, but it was too late to overcome a 13-point deficit in the second set.

In the third set, Delaware State trailed 15-10 before battling back. The Hornets scored 11 of the next 16 points, and pulled ahead 21-20 on a kill by Marisol Arredondo off a feed from McBean.

DSU trailed 24-23 before winning the next two points to pull to within one of taking the set. La Salle answered by scoring the next three points to close out the set and match.

Delaware State recorded eight blocks, including four by Janessa Helu to top all players.

The Hornets will return to action on Saturday (Sep. 12) against Penn in a tournament hosted by the Quakers. The match starts at 10:30 a.m. in Philadelphia. DSU will face Fairfield at 4:30 p.m. Saturday in the Penn Tournament.

DSU fell to 2-6 this season, while La Salle improved to 4-4.

Delaware State will play its 2015 home opener on Oct. 9 against Coppin State. The Dig Pink Breast Cancer Awareness contest begins at 7 p.m. in Memorial Hall.