Gwynedd Valley, Pa. - (9/1/2022) - In a thrilling season-opening victory, Gwynedd Mercy University defeated Albright College in a sensational 3-2 (25-22, 21-25, 25-22, 25-27, 16-14) rally. The Griffins took the opening set, 25-22, but exchanged the next three frames before coming from behind to steal the match with an opportune kill from junior outside hitter Bria Purnell (Reading, Pa.). Purnell was one of three Griffins to finish with double-digit points; fellow juniors, middle hitter Ashley Brown (Lansdale, Pa.) and outside hitter Julia Rabe (Virginia Beach, Pa.) joined her with 17.0 points (16 kills, block solo) and 13.0 points (13 kills), respectively.

Brown was impressive, scoring her match-high 16 kills on a match-best .424 (16K-2E-33TA) hitting percentage. She also recorded two assists, a solo block, and four digs. Purnell paired her 13.5 points (13 kills, block assist) with 14 digs. Rabe added two assists and four digs to her 13-point performance. At the point, freshman setters Ayanna Gaston (Middletown, Del.) (22 assists) and Amanda Lopez (Houston, Texas) (23) combined for 45 assists. Gaston added an ace, a block assist, and 16 digs, while Lopez additional provided five kills, three aces, a block assist, and a pair of digs. Sophomore defensive specialist Maddie Stancil (Lincoln University, Pa.) and senior libero Ashley Morris (Quakertown, Pa.) helped bolster Gwynedd Mercy University's defensive efforts with 15 and 18 digs, respectively.

Gwynedd Mercy University competes next on Saturday, September 3, when they visit Alvernia University for a tri-match with the Wolves (3:00 p.m.) and Goucher College (1:00 p.m.).