The Muhlenberg volleyball team dropped its first three matches of 2002 at the Beach Blast Tournament in Daytona Beach, Florida.

The Mules fell to Marian (Ind.) and Palm Beach Atlantic in three games and lost a five-game heartbreaker to Mount St. Clare in between. All three opponents are NAIA schools.

Muhlenberg returns to action on Saturday in a pool with the three other Division III teams at the tournament: Coe, Concordia (Texas) and Plattsburgh State.

Click here for box scores.

Smallwood’s penalty kick was his fourth career goal.

Muhlenberg will compete in the championship game of the Rochester Institute of Technology Men’s Soccer Invitational, Saturday evening, against the host school, a 6-2 winner over Alvernia in the other semifinal.

The win gives Sean Topping a successful debut as head coach for Muhlenberg.

Smallwood’s goal came off a penalty kick late in the second half, when Macalester committed a hand-ball foul. Muhlenberg sophomore Chris Davis needed to make only one save for his third career shutout.

Click here for box score.