Reading, Pa. - (9/30/2023) - Gwynedd Mercy University (5-8) traveled to Reading, Pennsylvania, for today's tri-match action with Penn State Wilkes-Barre and host, Albright College. The Griffins faced the Lions first and took a 3-2 (25-13, 25-22, 21-25, 22-25, 15-5) loss to the home side despite impressive 25-21 and 25-22 victories in the third and fourth sets. Their record evened out for the afternoon with a 3-0 (25-12, 25-13, 25-18) sweep of the Nittany Lions. Senior outside hitter
Bria Purnell (Reading, Pa.) played well in front of her home crowd with a team-high 19 kills on the day; her first was the 700th of her collegiate career.
Griffin Highlights vs. Albright College
- The Gwynedd Mercy University defense held Albright College to negative hit percentages in the third (-.027; 11K-12E-37TA) and fourth sets (-.042; 8K-9E-24TA).
- The Griffins totaled 10 team blocks thanks to superior efforts at the net from junior middle blocker Lexi Lane (Frederick, Colo.) (1 solo, 3 assisted), sophomore setter Ayanna Gaston (Middletown, Del.) (2, 1), freshman outside hitter Kate Etter (Chambersburg, Pa.) (2 solo), Purnell (1, 1), and others.
- Purnell (13.5 points) finished with a team-high 10 kills and scored two aces while providing an assist and four digs in addition to her blocks.
- Gaston (15.5) gave the Lions fits on the serve with 11 aces. She also killed three balls and supplied 26 assists while making nine digs and her blocks.
- Lane (10.5) recorded eight kills and a dig in excess of her net play.
- Junior libero Maddie Stancil (Lincoln University, Pa.) totaled a team-high 15 digs while also recording a kill and two assists.
Griffin Highlights vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre
- Gwynedd Mercy University hit a season's best .324 (34K-10E-74TA) against Penn State Wilkes-Barre.
- Their best set was the second, where a .429 (11K-2E-21TA) hitting percentage gave the Griffins an early 13-5 perch and distanced themselves late in a 25-21 final.
- Etter (14.0) was the Griffins' top scorer against the Nittany Lions as she matched her season-high 11 kills. She also scored three aces and made a dig.
- Purnell (11.0) offered nine kills, an ace, a solo block, and five digs.
- The Griffins served a season-high 19 aces in all. Gaston scored three more, but Stancil found the most success with seven aces.
- Gaston recorded two kills, 27 assists, and four digs in addition to her superb serves.
- Stancil additionally provided two assists and 10 digs.
Gwynedd Mercy University competes next on Thursday, October 5, with a 7:00 p.m. match at Saint Elizabeth University.