Brandywine Returns To Win Column In Straight-Set Victory

MEDIA, Pa. -- The Penn State Brandywine volleyball team ended its skid by sweeping a home non-conference match from Rosemont on Tuesday night, winning by set scores of 25-20, 25-15, 25-18.

Britney Howell (New Castle, Del./Delcastle Tech) paced the Lions' defensive effort with a season-high 24 digs. Only one player from a United East Conference school has had more than Howell's 24 digs in a three-set match this fall. She also added seven assists, while Morgan Rizer (Denton, Md./North Caroline) recorded a team-high three blocks.

Sophie Scrivo (Chester, Conn./Valley Regional) handed out 11 assists and was one of four Lions to record a trio of aces, joining Emmalin Molinaro (North Caldwell, N.J./West Essex), Laura Jezyk (Wilmington, Del./St. Elizabeth) and Anna Ramirez (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East). Ramirez posted a team-high eight kills, while Rizer registered five.

Rosemont scored the first point of the night, but Brandywine answered with three of the next four and led for the remainder of the opening set. Back-to-back kills from Lexie Berry (Brookhaven, Pa./Daegu) and Ramirez made the count 19-13 and Rosemont would not get closer than three points down the rest of the way.

Aided by three kills from Ramirez during an 11-1 surge, Brandywine ran out to a 15-5 edge during set No. 2. The Lions maintained a double-figure lead for the remainder of the set and Emma O'Reilly (Horsham, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) closed out the frame with a kill, giving Brandywine a 2-0 edge.

The visitors trimmed an early six-point deficit to just one at 12-11, but Brandywine answered with four-straight points, including a pair of Jezyk aces, and later used two aces from Molinaro to cap a 7-1 spurt that put the match away.

Brandywine (2-7) will play its final home non-conference match of the season on Monday when the Lions host Albright at 7:00 PM.