New Britain, Pa. - (10/26/2023) - Gwynedd Mercy University (10-11) gave Delaware Valley University (11-12) all they could handle in tonight's 3-1 (24-26, 22-25, 25-23, 31-33) final as the Aggies slid by in a 26-24 first-set finish, extended their claim with a 25-22 second-set win, and recovered from a 25-23 Griffin win in the third set with a suspenseful 33-31 fourth-set conclusion. Gwynedd Mercy University saw three Griffins finish in double-digit points as senior outside hitter
Bria Purnell (Reading, Pa.) (15.5 points; 12 kills, 2 aces, solo block, block assist), freshman outside hitter
Kate Etter (Chambersburg, Pa.) (14.5 points; 9 kills, 2 aces, 2 solo blocks, 3 block assists), and junior middle hitter
Lexi Lane (Frederick, Colo.) (11.5 points; 8 kills, 2 solo blocks, three block assists) each shined in defeat.
Griffin Highlights
- Gwynedd Mercy University recorded a season-high 14 team blocks. Etter (2 solo, 3 assisted), Lane (2,3), and senior middle hitter Ashley Brown (Lansdale, Pa.) (2, 4) led the impressive performance with 11.0 blocks (6 solo, 8 assisted) combined.
- The Griffins served for nine aces; Etter, Brown, and Purnell recorded two apiece.
- Purnell led the Red and Gold with a dozen (12) kills, two aces, 10 digs, and 1.5 blocks.
- Etter supported with nine kills, two aces, two solo blocks, three block assists, and a season-high 18 digs.
- Lane added an assist, two solo block, three block assists, and three digs to her eight kills.
- Sophomore setter Ayanna Gaston (Middletown, Del.) contributed one kill, 28 assists, an ace, two block assists, and a dozen digs.
- Sophomore libero Charlotte Pugh (Philadelphia, Pa.) captained the defense with 24 digs. She also recorded four assists and an ace.
Gwynedd Mercy University returns to action on Saturday, October 28, when they visit AEC rival Neumann University for a tri-match with the Knights and Lebanon Valley College. The Griffins face the Knights at 10:00 a.m. and the Flying Dutchmen at 12:00 p.m.
