DOYLESTOWN, Pa. – The Delaware Valley women's volleyball team jumped out to a two-set lead Thursday night, but Penn State Brandywine rallied to win the final three frames and hand the Aggies a 3-2 setback. DelVal took the opening two sets, 25-22 and 25-23, before the Lions responded with wins of 25-22, 25-21 and 15-11.
The Aggies erased an early five-point deficit in the opening set behind kills from
Patricia Schwab Garrido,
Layla-Deanna Rabanal and
Zoe Bera. Penn State Brandywine attempted to regain control, but back-to-back kills from
Ariana Hernandez and five consecutive service aces from Bera pushed DelVal in front, 16-13. The Aggies maintained the advantage down the stretch, with kills from Bera and
Monique Smith helping secure the 25-22 victory.
DelVal again found itself trailing by five in the second set before Schwab Garrido sparked an 8-0 run. Smith and Rabanal added kills during the stretch, while
Samantha Wilton contributed a service ace to give the Aggies a 12-9 lead. The Lions tied the score five times down the stretch, but DelVal created separation late before Smith delivered the final point to close out the 25-23 win.
Penn State Brandywine responded in the third, building a 20-12 advantage. DelVal battled back behind kills from Rabanal, Hernandez, Smith and Bera, cutting the deficit to two on two occasions, but the Lions held off the rally to take the set, 25-22.
The fourth frame remained tight throughout, with the teams playing to 15 ties before finding themselves even at 21. Brandywine broke the deadlock with four straight points to force a deciding fifth set with a 25-21 victory.
The Lions opened a four-point advantage in the final frame before DelVal worked its way back. A kill from Rabanal and several Brandywine errors pulled the Aggies within one, while a Bera kill and another Lions attack error tied the set at 10. Penn State Brandywine answered with five of the final six points to take the set, 15-11, and complete the comeback.
DelVal returns to action Saturday, Sept. 19 at the Albright Tri-Match. The Aggies will face host Albright at 11 a.m. before taking on Lycoming at 1 p.m.
