Posted: Sep 30, 2025
Brandywine Cruises To United East Sweep
Valley Forge
(5-5,1-0)
0
Penn State Brandywine
(6-6,1-0)
3
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Valley Forge (5-5,1-0) | 6 | 13 | 11 | 0 |
|
Penn State Brandywine (6-6,1-0) | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
MEDIA, Pa. -- The Penn State Brandywine volleyball team improved to 2-0 in United East Conference play as the Lions cruised to a sweep of Valley Forge by scores of 25-6, 25-13, 25-11 on Tuesday night.
Two aces from Laura Jezyk (Wilmington, Del./St. Elizabeth) and a kill from Emma O'Reilly (Horsham, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) started the night with three-straight points for the Lions and Brandywine never looked back. Leading 9-4, Brandywine ripped off 12 of the next 13 points, including three kills by Nia Moore (Gainesville, Va./Patriot) and two each from Emmalin Molinaro (North Caldwell, N.J./West Essex) and O'Reilly, to gain a 21-5 edge. After a Valley Forge point, Brandywine netted the final four markers of the frame with Aaliyna Patel's (Bowie, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt) ace closing out the set.
A pair of aces by Shannon Phillips (Springfield, Pa./Springfield), plus kills from O'Reilly and Hailey Piccirillo (Broadlands, Va./Virginia Academy), gave Brandywine an early 5-0 lead during set No. 2. The visitors trimmed the margin to just three points, but three aces from Molinaro, along with kills from O'Reilly and Rachel Nice (Feasterville, Pa./St. Hubert's), aided a 7-0 Brandywine run. The Lions led by double figures for the remainder of the set, winning 25-13, to build a 2-0 lead in the match.
Valley Forge hung around the final set, tying the count at 9-9 following a Brandywine error, but the Lions used a 13-1 surge to put the match away.
O'Reilly paced the Lions offensively with 10 kills, while Morgan Rizer (Denton, Md./North Caroline) chipped in with seven and Moore posted five. Molinaro, Nice and Piccirillo all tallied four kills. Shayla Howell (Newark, Del./St. George's Tech) recorded 14 assists and Jezyk handed out 13 helpers.
Jezyk, Molinaro and Rizer tied for the team lead with four aces each. Brandywine totaled 21 aces on the night.
Patel and Ava De La Osa (Dania Beach, Fla./Nova) each posted eight digs to top the defense. Molinaro added six digs, while Howell and Britney Howell (Newark, Del./Delcastle Tech) each collected five digs.
Brandywine (7-6, 2-0 UEC) is back at home Wednesday night to face Cheyney at 7:00 PM.
