DOYLESTOWN, Pa. – After mounting a comeback from a nine-point deficit in the third set, the Delaware Valley women's volleyball team fell short to send the match into a fourth set where the Aggies put up 33 point to take the 3-1 victory over Gwynedd Mercy on Thursday night.
 
The first two sets were rather routine for the Aggies who kept pace with the Griffins through the first points of the game when a kill from Victoria Tucker started DelVal on a 5-0 run to take an 11-9 lead over Gwynedd Mercy. The Griffins clawed back, but the Aggies offense didn't let up making it a six-point game, 19-13. An attack error shifted the momentum back in the direction of the Griffins who responded to the point with a 7-0 run to take the 21-19 lead. With the game tied at 22 points, Gwynedd Mercy put up two straight to sit just one point away from the win, 24-22. But, a kill from Tucker paired with two kills from Olivia Deffendall ended the Griffins hopes and handed the Aggies the 26-24 win.
 
The teams went back-and-forth in the second set eventually knotting the score at 14 before the Aggies started on a 5-0 run to take a 19-14 lead. In similar fashion as the first set, the Griffins immediately countered with a 6-0 run to take a single-point lead, 20-19. DelVal held the 6-2 advantage through the rest of the set with a Gretta Schneider kill ending it in favor of the Aggies, 25-22.
 
DelVal hit a rut to start the third falling behind the Griffins 12-3. The Aggies responded with a short 4-3 advantage before an Emma Helverson kill completely shifted the momentum and started an 8-0 run to tie the set, 16-16. The teams continued to battle with a two Grace Kane services aces and kill put the Aggies on a 5-0 run to take their first lead of the set, 23-21. The Griffins were ready with four-straight points to end the set in their favor, 25-23.
 
After an early two-point lead for Gwynedd Mercy to start the fourth set, the teams tied the score two times before four-straight kills from the Aggies, courtesy of Schneider, Deffendall and Tucker, gave DelVal a 12-9 lead. The Griffins were quick to tie it, but once again the Aggies were there to answer the call with a 5-0 run to make it a 18-13 game. Gwynedd Mercy continued to remain in chase with DelVal holding a 22-20 lead until a 4-0 run from the Griffins put them on top 24-22. Schneider and Deffendall prevented the winning point with back-to-back kills to tie the score at 24. The teams went on to tie it seven more times with back-to-back Tucker kills ending it all to put the Aggies up by two to win the set, 33-31.
 
Deffendall (13), Kane (10) and Tucker (8) all led the Aggies' offense in kills. Kane and Deffendall also joined Schneider as leaders from back court with two service aces apiece. Grace Wilson (29), Schneider (17), Kane (13) and Deffendall (12) all ended the game with double-digit digs. Helverson led at the net with two blocks.
 
The game marked the final home contest for the Aggies for the 2023 season. They return to action on the road this Saturday, Oct. 28 for a noon matchup against Albright.