Brandywine Downed 3-0 At Cairn

LANGHORNE, Pa. – The Penn State Brandywine volleyball team suffered a 3-0 (19-25, 18-25, 10-25) defeat at Cairn on Tuesday night.

Brandywine held an 8-6 lead during the opening set, but seven-straight Highlander points helped the hosts take the lead. The Lions trimmed the margin to just one on three occasions, but Cairn collected six of the final eight points to win the frame.

Aided by kills from Morgan Rizer (Denton, Md./North Caroline) and Nia Moore (Gainesville, Va./Patriot), Brandywine cut a four-point deficit to two at 20-18; however, Cairn netted the final five points to claim a 2-0 lead in the match.

The Highlanders used an 8-0 midway through the final set to take command and pulled away, completing the sweep by a 25-10 count.

Shayla Howell (Newark, Del./St. George's Tech) recorded 19 assists, while Moore and Hailey Piccirillo (Broadlands, Va./Virginia Academy) tied for the team lead with five kills. Rizer and Emma O'Reilly (Horsham, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) both chipped in with four kills.

Aaliyna Patel (Bowie, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt) tallied a team-best 14 digs, while O'Reilly notched 10.

Brandywine (10-8, 4-2 UEC) visits Immaculata for its final non-conference match on Thursday beginning at 5:00 PM.