Brandywine Splits Day One Of PSUAC Crossover

MEDIA, Pa. -- Penn State Brandywine won its opening match against Penn State DuBois in straight sets, but dropped a four-set decision to Penn State Fayette during its final match of Saturday's PSUAC Volleyball Crossover.

Match One: Brandywine 3, DuBois 0

Brandywine held on for a 25-23 victory in the first set and pulled away late during the next two, posting the straight-set sweep. 

The Lions led the opening frame 15-10 following an ace from Sydney Stevens, but DuBois rallied to get within one at 24-23; however, a ball handling error gave on DuBois gave Brandywine the opening set.

Two aces from Stevens, plus kills from Anna Ramirez (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East), Amanda Floyd (Glenolden, Pa./Interboro) and Katie Snyder (Wilmington, Del./Dickinson) handed Brandywine an early 8-2 edge in set No. 2. The visitors quickly answered, tying the count at 8-8, but Brandywine did not allow DuBois to go in front. Three more Stevens aces and two kills from Floyd gave Brandywine an 18-13 advantage and the Lions later claimed the set following a pair of DuBois errors.

Brandywine led 15-14 before exploding for seven consecutive points, aided by three kills from Floyd, to take control of the final frame. 

Floyd totaled eight kills, while Ramirez led the team with 12 kills. Laura Jezyk (Wilmington, Del./St. Elizabeth) tallied 27 assists, along with 13 digs and three aces, and Stevens served up nine of Brandywine's 17 aces.

Suzie Alvarenga (Fullerton, Calif./Notre Dame Academy) notched a team-best 15 digs, while Ramirez tallied 11.

Match Two: Fayette 3, Brandywine 1

Brandywine put together a furious, late rally to claim the opening set against Fayette before the visitors claimed the final three frames.

Facing a 24-19 deficit, Brandywine staved off set point five times and scored the final seven points of the frame to take a 1-0 lead in the match. A kill from Lexie Berry (Brookhaven, Pa./Daegu (South Korea)) and an ace from Alvarenga, following by two Fayette miscues brought the Lions within one. Following a timeout, Floyd set down three consecutive kills to give Brandywine the set.

Fayette used an 11-2 run to pull away with the second set. The visitors claimed the frame 25-11 to even the match.

Brandywine battled back from a seven-point deficit, climbing within one when Floyd notched a kill, but a kill from Bella Buwawa and a Brandywine error put an end to Brandywine's second comeback attempt as Fayette won the set 25-22.

A 10-0 run midway through the fourth set was the difference as Fayette ran away to claim the match.

Floyd set a career high with 15 kills, while Ramirez tallied eight kills and Jezyk amassed 30 assists and two aces.

On the defensive end, Alvarenga led the Lions with 21 digs. Ramirez and Leilu Campbell (Phoenixville, Pa./Phoenixville) both collected 12 digs and Jezyk produced nine.

Brandywine (8-7) faces Penn State Mont Alto (10:00 AM) and Penn State Greater Allegheny (12:00 PM) during the final day of Crossover Weekend on Sunday.