Reading, Pa (September 19, 2024) - Alvernia University (8-4) dropped a non-conference women's volleyball match to Gwynedd Mercy University (6-3) 3-2, Thursday night on Alvernia's Jack McCloskey Court. 

The Griffins and the Golden Wolves traded sets back and forth all match with Gwynedd Mercy taking the first, third and fifth sets and the Golden Wolves grabbed the second and fourth sets. 

How it Happened 

• The first set was tied early, 3-3, before the Griffins started to separate. Gwynedd Mercy led 20-12 as the Golden Wolves called a timeout to regroup. The Golden Wolves then scored six of the next eight points to bring it within four, 22-18. But Gwynedd Mercy scored the next two points on Alvernia errors to move the first set to set point, 24-19. Alvernia held off one set point on a Hailey McDevitt kill, but the Griffins closed out the set, 25-19, on a set error by Alvernia.
• Alvernia settled to open the second set as the Golden Wolves took an early 6-3, which saw a pair of Alvernia blocks from Allie Evangelista and Kayleigh Kehler with Jamie Pierce. The Griffins used an early timeout but, Alvernia came out of the timeout and scored three more to take a 9-3 lead. Alvernia led by five, 18-13, later in the set, but the Griffins hung around. Gwynedd Mercy cut Alvernia's lead down to three, 19-16, but Alvernia pushed the lead back up to five, 22-17, on a Jamie Pierce kill. A service error by the Griffins brought Alvernia to set point, and, following two hold-offs of set point by the Griffins, Alvernia closed out the set with a Presley Carnes kill on the McDevitt set.
• The third set went back and forth early on and it was a one point set, 12-11, midway through. But, a quick 4-1 run by the Griffins forced Alvernia to use a timeout with Gwynedd Mercy leading, 16-12. But, the Griffins kept their foot on the gas and pushed the lead to 18-12 coming out of the timeout. Gwynedd Mercy kept it following and made it an eight point set, 22-14, when Alvernia used its final timeout of the set. The Golden Wolves couldn't slow down the Griffin attack as Gwynedd Mercy took the set, 25-15, and the match lead, 2-1.
• Neither team could gain ground past the midpoint of the fourth set as it was locked at 16-16. A one-timer kill from Kayleigh Kehler broke the tie, 17-16, and a Marli Emrich ace made it 18-16. Alvernia pushed it to 21-18 on a massive kill from Allie Evangelista. Alvernia got to set point, 24-19, on a Bermuda triangle service ace from McDevitt that three Griffins watched hit the floor. Gwynedd Mercy held off one set point, but a big solo block from Jamie Pierce closed out the set, 25-20, and sent the match to the fifth set.
• The Griffins jumped to an early 3-1 lead in the deciding set but the Golden Wolves bounced back with six of the next eight points to take a 7-5 lead. Kehler, Allison Wolf and McGlone all recorded kills for Alvernia during the stretch. The Griffins then recorded an 8-4 scoring run to regain the lead, 13-11 late in the set. Alvernia tied it after two straight points after a Griffins error and a Caroline Buggy service ace to make it 13-13 but Gwynedd Mercy tallied the final two points of the set to take it 15-13 and secure the 3-2 victory. 

Inside the Box Score 

• Olivia Rohrbaugh led the way offensively for the Golden Wolves with ten kills, added two blocks and seven digs. 
• Kayleigh Kehler recorded a team high 15 digs, two blocks and nine kills. 
• Patricia Falar led with 11 assists and Hailey McDevitt recorded 11 assists and seven kills. 
• Allie Evangelista tallied a team high four blocks and Abigail McGinley recorded 12 digs and Julianna McGlone tallied 13. 

Up Next 

• The Golden Wolves are back in action on Wednesday when they travel to Messiah to take on the Falcons for the start of MAC Commonwealth play. Game time is set for 7:00 PM.