Brandywine Outlasts Bryn Athyn In Five-Set Home Opener

MEDIA, Pennsylvania -- Penn State Brandywine outlasted Bryn Athyn in a hard-fought, five-set match, 3-2, to claim its home volleyball opener on Tuesday night. After Bryn Athyn claimed set No. 1, 25-16, Brandywine rallied to win sets two (25-23) and three (27-25), but Bryn Athyn took set No. 4, 25-21. The Lions handled Bryn Athyn 15-6 during the deciding set.

Molly Nichols (Lenni, Pa./Penncrest) was the lone Lion to register a double-figure kill count at 10 and added a pair of aces and two blocks, while Nicole Costa (Lansdowne, Pa./Upper Darby) tallied eight kills and Kirsten Jerla (Springfield, Pa./Notre Dame) collected seven.

Miranda Biondi (Newtown Square, Pa./Marple Newtown), who was awarded PSUAC Setter of the Week on Tuesday, handed out 31 assists and accumulated eight digs and five aces.

Brandywine took the first two points of the first set, but Bryn Athyn rallied with four-straight points and would lead throughout the remainder of the set.

Bryn Athyn ran out to a 6-1 edge in game two; however, Brandywine closed within one on two occasions and finally took the lead on back-to-back kills by Nichols. Four points later, Costa's kill capped the set. Neither team led by more than two points in a tightly-contested set No. 3. The Lions registered the final two points, including a kill by Nichols to claim the set.

After Bryn Athyn rebounded to take the fourth, Brandywine rolled out to a 6-0 lead during the deciding set, behind two aces from Biondi, and never looked back, winning the set with ease.

Kim Russo (West Chester, Pa./West Chester East) led the Lions with 16 digs, while Emily Battista (Broomall, Pa./Marple Newtown) collected 10 and Nikki Poissant (Aston, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) added eight.

Bryn Athyn's Alexa Kennedy and Taylor Davis tied for the match lead with 16 kills each, while Abi Anderson handed out 31 assists.

Brandywine is back on the road on Monday when it visits Penn State Berks at 7:00 pm.