Lancaster Bible Tops Brandywine In Four-Set Home Opener

MEDIA, Pa. -- Playing in front of its home fans for the first time this fall, the Penn State Brandywine volleyball team was defeated 3-1 (9-25, 21-25, 25-18, 15-25) by Lancaster Bible College on Tuesday night.

The Chargers scored the first three points of the night and led for the duration of the first set, winning 25-9.

The second frame was closely contested as it featured nine tied scores and neither team led by more than four points. Brandywine ran out to a 7-3 lead, but the visitors answered with five of the next six points to tie the count at 8-8. Hailey Piccirillo (Broadlands, Va./Virginia Academy) notched a kill that put Brandywine on top 13-12 before LBC answered with three-straight points. Despite the Lions fighting back to tie the score three times, Brandywine could not pull in front and the Chargers scored four of the final five points to claim the set 25-21 and take a 2-0 lead in the match.

Kills from Morgan Rizer (Denton, Md./North Caroline), Anna Ramirez (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East) and Emma O'Reilly (Horsham, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham), plus an ace from Rizer, helped stake the Lions to an early 7-2 edge in set No. 3. Brandywine continued to pull away, using a 8-1 surge, aided by two Ramirez kills and one from Lexie Berry (Brookhaven, Pa./Daegu) to build their largest lead of the night at 15-4. LBC climbed within four at 16-12, but three-straight Brandywine points, including two aces from Laura Jezyk (Wilmington, Del./St. Elizabeth), helped the Lions maintain the lead as Brandywine got on the board by taking the set 25-18.

Lancaster Bible bounced back in the fourth set, establishing a 10-2 lead. Ramirez's kill capped an 8-3 Lions' spurt that closed the gap to 15-12, but that is as close as the Lions would get. LBC answered with 10 of the final 13 points to win the match in four frames.

Ramirez posted seven kills, while O'Reilly and Piccirillo both collected four kills and Rizer notched three. Jezyk handed out nine assists and added two aces, while Rizer topped the Lions with four service aces.

Brandywine's defense registered seven blocks, including four from Berry and three from Sophie Scrivo (Chester, Conn./Valley Regional). Ava De La Osa (Dania Beach, Fla./Nova) notched a team-best 12 digs and Jezyk tallied seven, while O'Reilly produced six and Emmalin Molinaro (North Caldwell, N.J./West Essex) collected five.

Brandywine (1-4) is back at home on Thursday to face Cairn at 7:00 PM.