Posted: Sep 06, 2025
Brandywine Holds Off Bryn Mawr For First Victory
Bryn Mawr
(2-2,0-0 Centennial)
2
Penn State Brandywine
(1-1,0-0 United East)
3
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bryn Mawr (2-2,0-0 Centennial) | 16 | 19 | 25 | 26 | 7 | 2 |
|
Penn State Brandywine (1-1,0-0 United East) | 25 | 25 | 19 | 24 | 15 | 3 |
Penn St.-Abington
(1-3,0-0)
3
Penn State Brandywine
(1-1,0-0)
0
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Penn St.-Abington (1-3,0-0) | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
|
Penn State Brandywine (1-1,0-0) | 10 | 19 | 20 | 0 |
MEDIA, Pa. -- Penn State Brandywine won the first two sets and held off a Bryn Mawr rally by outlasting the Owls 15-7 during the fifth set to claim a 3-2 (25-16, 25-19, 19-25, 24-26, 15-7) triumph, the Lions' first victory of the season, on Saturday afternoon. During the second contest of the tri-match, the Lions dropped a 3-0 (10-25, 19-25, 20-25) decision to Penn State Abington.
Brandywine 3, Bryn Mawr 2
Two kills from Emma O'Reilly (Horsham, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham), an ace by Lara Zima (Hollywood, Fla./Westminster Academy) and three BMC errors during a 6-1 Lions' run allowed Brandywine to build a 13-10 edge during the first set. Bryn Mawr closed to within two, but the Lions netted the final six points of the opening frame, including a pair of aces from Emmalin Molinaro (North Caldwell, N.J./West Essex) and two kills by Hailey Piccirillo (Broadlands, Va./Virginia Academy), to run away with the set.
Zima accounted for three points as Brandywine opened the second frame with four-straight markers. A 7-0 run capped by a Molinaro kill extended Brandywine's lead to 13-5 and the Lions cruised through the remainder of the set to claim a 2-0 lead in the match.
The Owls forced a deciding fifth set by winning frames Nos. 3 and 4 and held an early lead during the final stanza, but Zima keyed a 10-0 surge with five aces and Morgan Rizer (Denton, Md./North Caroline) added two kills as Brandywine secured its first victory of the season.
Zima produced 25 assists, 14 digs, 10 aces and nine kills, while O'Reilly collected a team-best 14 kills. Piccirillo, Molinaro and Shayla Howell (Newark, Del./St. George's Tech) all notched eight kills.
Defensively, Ava De La Osa (Dania Beach, Fla./Nova) registered 12 digs and O'Reilly produced eight, while Piccirillo had a game-high five blocks.
Penn State Abington 3, Penn State Brandywine 0
Brandywine split its home tri-match after dropping a straight-set decision to Abington during the final match of the day.
Howell paced the offense with seven kills, seven digs and four aces, while Zima handed out 12 assists. O'Reilly amassed 12 digs and Howell added nine digs.
After Abington raced out to a big lead and cruised in the first set, Brandywine hung tough in the second frame, holding a 16-15 lead following three-straight aces from Howell. Abington responded with six-straight points to take command of the set and pulled away late, winning 25-19.
Brandywine again held a late lead during the final frame at 19-18, but Abington notched seven of the day's final eight points to win the match in straight sets.
Brandywine (1-2) will close out its season-opening homestand on Tuesday against Delaware Valley beginning at 7:00 PM.
