READING, Pa. – The Delaware Valley women's volleyball team competed in a pair of matches on Saturday, falling to host Albright in straight sets before battling Lycoming in a 3-1 setback. The Aggies highlighted the day with a 25-21 second-set victory over the Warriors to even the match at one set apiece.
MATCH ONE VS. ALBRIGHT: 0-3
Set One: 18-25
Set Two: 17-25
Set Three: 16-25
Albright jumped out to a 12-2 lead in the opening set before a kill from
Monique Smith and a service ace from
Shanna Graham sparked the DelVal offense. The Lions rebuilt their advantage to 11, but the Aggies responded with an 8-1 run fueled by kills from Smith and Patricia Schwab-Garrido to pull within four. Albright halted the comeback, closing the frame with a 4-1 stretch to take the opening set.
The Lions again created separation early in the second set, while Schwab-Garrido,
Layla-Deanna Rabanal and
Ariana Hernandez helped keep the Aggies within striking distance. Smith,
Madison Alexander and
Charlotte Kampf added kills as DelVal looked to cut into the deficit, but Albright maintained control and secured the second set.
DelVal battled point-for-point with the Lions early in the third before a 6-0 Albright run opened a seven-point advantage. Back-to-back kills from Rabanal, along with kills from Smith and Kampf, helped the Aggies trim the deficit to four. The Lions answered with five unanswered points down the stretch to close out the set and secure the match.
MATCH TWO VS. LYCOMING: 1-3
Set One: 19-25
Set Two: 25-21
Set Three: 21-25
Set Four: 18-25
Lycoming opened the match on a 10-2 run before a kill from
Monique Smith halted the early momentum. The Warriors responded with four unanswered points to extend their advantage to 11, but the Aggies battled back.
Ariana Hernandez,
Layla-Deanna Rabanal,
Charlotte Kampf, Smith,
Zoe Bera and
Samantha Wilton combined for nine kills, while service aces from
Camilla Garcia and
Madison Alexander helped DelVal cut the deficit to two. Lycoming held off the comeback with a 3-1 run to take the opening set, 25-19.
Alexander opened the second set with a service ace before adding back-to-back kills to help DelVal establish an early advantage. An ace from
Adriana Heinrichs and kills from Rabanal and Bera kept the Aggies in front before Lycoming rallied to even the score and briefly take the lead. Hernandez sparked the response with a kill that started a 6-2 DelVal run to regain control. Rabanal delivered consecutive kills to bring the Aggies to set point before a Warriors error sealed the 25-21 victory and evened the match at one set apiece.
Lycoming again grabbed an early advantage in the third, but DelVal battled back to even the score as the teams traded control throughout the frame. The score was tied six more times before a
Hayley Drinkard service ace sparked a 4-0 Aggies run to create a four-point cushion. The Warriors answered down the stretch, however, using a 9-1 run to pull away for the 25-21 win.
Hernandez helped DelVal stay within striking distance early in the fourth, converting a kill to cut the deficit to one. Lycoming stretched its advantage to six before the Aggies mounted another rally behind two kills from Rabanal and consecutive service aces from Hernandez to once again pull within one. The Warriors halted the comeback with a 6-1 closing run to take the set, 25-18, and secure the match.
The Aggies are back in action this Wednesday, Sep. 23 for their second MAC Freedom matchup of the season at Lebanon Valley at 7 p.m.
