Brandywine Comes Up Short In Final Non-Conference Match

IMMACULATA, Pa. – The Penn State Brandywine volleyball team came up short, falling in four sets (17-25, 20-25, 27-25, 16-25) at Immaculata, during the Lions' final non-conference match of the season on Thursday night.

Brandywine led the opening set 15-14, but Immaculata scored seven-straight points to claim a six-point edge. The Mighty Macs closed out the set by netting four of the final five points to build a 1-0 lead in the match.

After the hosts won the second set 25-20, Brandywine pushed the match to a fourth frame by winning the third stanza 27-25. A 7-2 spurt, aided by two kills from Emma O'Reilly (Horsham, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham), put Brandywine in front 23-21. Immaculata scored the next three points, but another O'Reilly kill knotted the count at 24-all. After the teams swapped points, Ava De La Osa (Dania Beach, Fla./Nova) set down an ace and Immaculata committed an error, giving the set to Brandywine.

Immaculata steadily grew a lead as large as nine points during the fourth set. The Lions closed within six, but the Mighty Macs recorded four of the last five points to close out the match.

O'Reilly tallied team highs with nine kills and 12 digs, while Emmalin Molinaro (North Caldwell, N.J./West Essex) tallied seven kills and Shayla Howell (Newark, Del./St. George's Tech) posted 25 assists.

Howell added 11 digs, while Britney Howell (Newark, Del./Deltech) collected eight and De La Osa registered seven. Shayla Howell, Nia Moore (Gainesville, Va./Patriot) and Mogan Rizer (Denton, Md./North Caroline) tied for the team lead with three blocks each.

Brandywine (10-9, 4-2 UEC) closes out its three-game road swing Wednesday at St. Mary's MD (7:00 PM).