Brandywine Falls In Four-Set Opener

MEDIA, Pa. -- The Penn State Brandywine volleyball team was edged in its season-opening match by Immaculata, falling in four sets (21-25, 25-21, 19-25, 19-25) on Thursday night.

After falling behind by as many as six points during the first set, Brandywine climbed to within one at 18-17 following a kill from Lexie Berry (Brookhaven, Pa./Daegu), but could not come all of the way back as the Mighty Macs claimed the opening frame 25-21.

Kills from Sophie Scrivo (Chester, Conn./Valley Regional) and Anna Ramirez (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East), two Immaculata errors and an ace from Sydney Stevens (Wilmington, Del./Alexis I. DuPont) fueled a 5-0 Brandywine spurt that put the Lions on top 12-6 in the second frame. Immaculata rallied to take an 18-15 edge; however, Brandywine finished the set with a 10-3 surge, aided by three kills from Ramirez, and evened the match at one set a piece.

The third set was closely contested throughout as neither team led by more than three points until the Mighty Macs pulled away late, recording seven of the final nine points to earn the set, 25-19.

Brandywine led 7-4 during the early stages of the final set, but Immaculata knotted the score with three-straight points, and after the teams swapped points, Immaculata used a quick, 4-0 spurt to go in front 17-13. Ramirez's ace capped a run of three-straight Brandywine points to tie the match at 19-all, but Immaculata answered with the final six markers of the night to claim the victory.

Ramirez posted a match-high 14 kills, while Floyd added 11 kills, five digs and three blocks. Stevens collected five of Brandywine's 10 aces and Sydney Terrell (Walkersville, Md./St. John's Catholic Prep) notched 20 assists.

On the defensive end, Suzie Alvarenga (Fullerton, Calif./Notre Dame Academy) posted the fifth 30-dig output of her career, while Laura Jezyk (Wilmington, Del./St. Elizabeth) posted 24 digs. Stevens and Terrell each tallied nine digs and Scrivo chipped in a pair of blocks.

Brandywine (0-1) gets an early start to conference play Tuesday when the Lions host Penn State Hazleton at 7:00 PM.