Brandywine Downed 3-0 By Berks

MEDIA, Pa. -- Penn State Brandywine nearly rallied to win the first and third sets, but the Lions suffered a 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-23) loss to Penn State Berks in non-conference volleyball action on Monday night.

Brandywine opened up a 16-12 lead during the first set following consecutive kills from Lauren Kelly (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown East), Nicolette Napoleon (Springfield, Pa./Penn Charter) and Hannah Sarafinas (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown West). Berks answered with six-straight points to jump into the lead and eventually pushed its advantage to 24-20. Brandywine tallied the next three points, getting within one following an ace by Becca Civera (Boothwyn, Pa./Chichester), but Berks got the final point it needed on a Brandywine error to claim the first set.

After Berks notched the first six points of the second set, Brandywine reeled off seven-straight points, including back-to-back aces from Kelly, to move in front. Berks responded with six of the next seven points and swelled the margin as large as nine points before settling for the 25-19 victory.

The Lions trailed by as many as eight points during the final frame before chipping away, collecting three-straight points to climb within 22-17. Berks received a kill from Abbie Tuel to push the game to match point, but Brandywine scored the next four points, using two Berks miscues and a pair of kills from Kelly to get within one; however, Megan Lackman set down a kill to close out the match for the visitors.

Kelly and Napoleon paced Brandywine with eight kills each, while Julia Miles (Boothwyn, Pa./Chichester) dished out 21 assists. Sarafinas added four kills and a team-best three aces.

Kelly was one-of-four Lions to reach double figures in digs, notching 18. Sydney Stevens (Wilmington, Del./Alexis I. DuPont) and Civera both collected 13 digs, while Napoleon amassed 10. Sarafinas posted four of Brandywine's five blocks, including three solo blocks.

Brandywine (12-14, 9-0 PSUAC) hosts Penn State Lehigh Valley on Wednesday at 7:00 PM. The team will honor its seniors prior to the beginning of the match on Senior Night.