Reading, Pa. (Sept. 1, 2022) - Alvernia University (1-0) defeated Washington College (0-1) 3-2 in non-conference women's volleyball action Thursday night at Alvernia to open the 2022 season.

The Golden Wolves were led by Rachel Sipling as they traded tight sets back and forth with the Shorewomen throughout the match before taking the fifth set 15-13. 

Alvernia jumped out to a 6-3 lead to start the first set before Washington answered with a four point run of its own to take the lead at 7-6. 

The Golden Wolves responded with a six point run of their own with kills from Rachel Sipling and Kayleigh Kehler to extend the Alvernia lead to 12-8. 

The Shorewomen and the Golden Wolves traded points back and forth during the middle of the first set before Washington went on a 6-2 run to take the lead at 17-16. 

Alvernia and Washington continued to trade points back and forth until Alvernia grabbed a two point advantage at 23-21 after two errors by the Shorewomen. The Golden Wolves quickly capitalized and closed the first set out thanks to a kill from Sipling to win the first set. 

Washington College came out firing in the second set, jumping out to an 11-5 advantage before extending its lead to 15-9 midway through the second set. 

The Golden Wolves would not stay down for long as they responded with a 5-0 run of their own to get within one of the lead thanks to two aces from Patricia Falar. 

The Shorewomen went on another run, 8-4, to extend their lead over the Golden Wolves to 23-18. 

Alvernia responded again with three quick points of its own, but it was not enough as Washington's Courtney Maxwell ended the second set with a kill to take the set 25-22.

The third set began with both teams trading points back and forth before Washington took a 10-7 lead. The Golden Wolves stormed back as they ripped off an eight point run to take a 15-11 lead over the Shorewomen. 

Washington went on a small run of its own to cut the Alvernia lead to just one, but the Golden Wolves responded immediately with a five point run to extend their lead to six, with Alvernia leading 22-16. 

Washington scored three points in a row to cut the lead to 22-19, but it was not enough as the Golden Wolves closed out the third set 25-22 to take a 2-1 lead after three sets. 
Alvernia started the fourth set by jumping out to a quick 6-4 lead before Washington went on a five point run to take the lead at 9-6. Both teams traded points back and forth and Washington extended its lead to 13-9 before the Golden Wolves stormed back, going on a 7-3 scoring run to tie the fourth set at 16 a piece. 

The Golden Wolves then took a 19-18 lead over the Shorewomen before Washington fought back, going on a 7-3 scoring run to take the fourth set, 25-22 and tie the match at two sets a piece.  

Alvernia came out firing in the firth stanza, jumping out to a 6-4 lead early in the set. 
Washington responded quickly with an 8-2 scoring run giving the Shorewomen a 12-8 advantage. 

The Golden Wolves responded yet again with a 3-1 scoring run to cut the Washington lead to 13-11 late into the deciding set. 

Alvernia never looked back as they scored four straight points to win the fifth set 15-13 and take the match 3-2 in a five set thriller. 

The Golden Wolves were led by Rachel Sipling with 15 kills, Hailey McDevitt added five and Molly Gaffney had four. Gaffney also led the team in assists with 13, while Patricia Falar added another 11. Sipling led Alvernia in digs with 21, while Kayleigh Kehler and Jordan Thompson both tallied 17. 

Alvernia is back in action Saturday as they host Goucher College and Gwynedd Mercy in a tri- match, matches set for 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM