Brandywine Drops Straight-Set Decision To Immaculata

IMMACULATA, Pa. – The Penn State Brandywine volleyball team was defeated in straight sets by Immaculata on Friday night, falling by scores of 25-18, 25-16, 25-22, as the 2024 season got underway for both teams.

Brandywine scored four of the first five points on the night, aided by kills from Morgan Rizer (Denton, Md./North Caroline) and Hailey Piccirillo (Broadlands, Va./Virginia Academy), but Immaculata battled back to tie the score at 6-all. The Mighty Macs later used a 6-0 run to take control of the first set, winning 25-18.

The hosts registered a 10-1 surge to open up an early 11-3 edge during set No. 2. Brandywine rallied to within four following Anna Ramirez's (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East) ace; however, Immaculata scored the next four points and did not allow Brandywine to get closer than six points the rest of the way.

The Lions held a 16-15 edge midway through the final frame, but Immaculata reeled off six-straight points to jump in front for the first time in the set. Four Mighty Mac errors and a kill from Lexie Berry (Brookhaven, Pa./Daegu) trimmed the deficit to 23-22. Mia Esposito answered with a kill for Immaculata, setting up match point and a Brandywine miscue put a close to the match.

Piccirillo led the Lions with five kills during her college debut, while Berry, Rizer and Emma O'Reilly (Horsham, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) all tallied four. Laura Jezyk (Wilmington, Del./St. Elizabeth) handed out seven assists and Sophie Scrivo (Chester, Conn./Valley Regional) added six.

Ava De La Osa (Dania Beach, Fla./Nova) aided the defense with eight digs, while Ramirez and Jezyk each collected four.