GAMBIER, Ohio -- The Mount Union volleyball team knocked off 12th-ranked Juniata (Pa.) to open the Kenyon Invitational on Friday night in Gambier, Ohio.

The victory marked the fourth straight for the 22nd-ranked Purple Raiders.  They went 3-1 last weekend at the Golden Flyer Invitational in Rochester, N.Y., defeating Fredonia State (N.Y.) and Nazareth (N.Y.) on Sunday (Sept. 8) before beating Case Western Reserve in their home opener on Wednesday night in Alliance.

Things looked bleak for the Raiders after they lost the first set to Juniata, 25-14, on Friday, but they rallied in the second set to win 25-20.  Mount Union lost the third set 25-20 but outscored Juniata 40-23 over the final two sets (25-15, 15-8) to win the match.  

For Mount Union, it was its first win over a ranked opponent this season.  They lost the 2012 opener to eighth-ranked Hope (Mich.) on Aug. 31 and number three Calvin (Mich.) the next day.   Cortland State (N.Y.), ranked 13th in the country last week, beat the Raiders in Rochester a week ago.

Juniata ended Mount Union's season in the NCAA Tournament both last year and in 2009.  

The milestone victory for Mount Union improved its overall record to 7-3.  Juniata fell to 5-4.  The Raiders take the court twice tomorrow to face Transylvania (Ky.) at 10 a.m. and Kenyon at 4 p.m.