Collegeville, Pa. - (11/4/2023) - Gwynedd Mercy University (11-15) concluded their regular-season schedule with today's
afternoon matches at Ursinus College (12-15). The Griffins first defeated King's College (PA) (14-14) by a 3-1 (20-25, 25-20, 25-23, 25-19) thanks to a career-high 51 assists from sophomore setter
Ayanna Gaston (Middletown, Del.), then lost to the hosting Bears in a three-set finish, 3-0 (26-24, 25-20, 25-21). Gaston's impressive first match pushed her past 1,000 career assists as she closes in on seventh place on the program's all-time list. Senior outside hitter
Bria Purnell (Reading, Pa.) led the Red and Gold in scoring in both affairs; she totaled a season-high 22.5 points against the Monarchs with 19 kills, two aces, a solo block, and a block assist, then record 10.0 point versus the Bears with her 13th double-digit kill performance of the season.
Griffin Highlights vs. King's College (PA)
- Gwynedd Mercy University hit .237 (62K-22E-169TA) for the match thanks to .300-plus performances in the third (.306; 15K-4E-36TA) and fourth (.302; 17K-4E-43TA) sets.
- The Griffins combined for 10 aces and six team blocks. Junior defensive specialist Maddie Stancil (Lincoln University, Pa.) recorded three of the aces, while junior middle blocker Lexi Lane (Frederick, Colo.) totaled 3.5 blocks with three solo blocks and a block assist.
- Gwynedd Mercy University had four players finish with double-digit kills. Purnell's 19 was supported by 14 from freshman outside hitter Kate Etter (Chambersburg, Pa.), a dozen (12) from Lane, and 11 from senior middle hitter Ashley Brown (Lansdale, Pa.).
- Sophomore libero Charlotte Pugh (Philadelphia, Pa.) totaled four assits and 31 digs.
Griffin Highlights vs. Ursinus College
- Gwynedd Mercy University hit .144 (36K-20E-111TA) against the Bears, while recording five aces, and two team blocks.
- Purnell paired her 10 kills with an assist and four digs.
- Etter offered eight kills, an ace, and 14 digs.
- Gaston supplied a kill, 31 assists, three aces, a solo block, and five digs.
- Pugh paired her team-high 18 digs with three assists.
Gwynedd Mercy University concludes the 2023 regular season with an 11-15 overall record and a 3-2 conference standing. They return to the Griffin Complex on Tuesday, November 7, when they host #6 Immaculata University for a 7:15 Atlantic East Conference First Round match.
