Lions Complete Season Sweep Of Hazleton

MEDIA, Pa. -- Penn State Brandywine downed Penn State Hazleton for the second time this season as the Lions topped the visitors 3-1 on Thursday night. Set scores for the match were 25-18, 19-25, 25-21, 25-17.

Brandywine received a team-high 12 kills from Amanda Floyd (Glenolden, Pa./Interboro), while Brandi James (Glenolden, Pa./Interboro) was one-of-three Lions with seven kills and tallied 11 digs. Gianna Anthony (Newtown Square, Pa./Sacred Heart Academy) collected a match-high 20 digs and added four assists and one ace.

The teams were tied 10-10 during the first set when Brandywine moved in front for good behind two kills from Floyd and one by Anthony. Hazleton trimmed the margin to two points on three occasions, but the Lions recorded the final four points, including kills by Floyd, Kira Thorne (Alconbury, England/Alconbury) and Hannah Sarafinas (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown West), to win the set.

After Hazleton claimed the second frame to even the match at one set apiece, Brandywine rebounded to take the final two sets.

The Lions held a one-point edge at 17-16 in the third set, but used four consecutive Hazleton errors to move in front by five and held on to win the stanza 25-21.

Hazleton netted two of the first three points of the final set; however, Brandywine reeled off the next seven points, including two kills from Floyd and two James aces, to establish an 8-2 edge. The Lions' lead reached 10 points following an ace from Rebecca Gonzalez (Clearwater, Fla./Washburn Academy) and Brandywine would cruise to the finish.

Thorne and Hope Coacher (Ardmore, Pa./Haverford) both produced seven kills, while Sarafinas and Rikelle Taylor (Nottingham, Pa./Solanco) each chipped in six. Gonzalez recorded 22 assists, splitting time at setter with Madison Swenson (Chadds Ford, Pa./Kennett), who amassed 14 assists, along with six digs and two aces.

Defensively, Thorne registered eight digs, while Taylor recorded a game-best three blocks.

Brandywine (6-12, 5-1 PSUAC) will play three conference matches as part of Dig Pink Day on Saturday beginning with a noon matchup against Penn State Lehigh Valley.