Gwynedd Valley, Pa. (Sep. 11, 2025) - After dropping the first set, Alvernia University (3-2) completed the comeback to down Gwynedd Mercy University (3-2), 3-1, on Thursday night in non-conference women's volleyball action at Gwynedd Mercy.

The match was closely contested from wire-to-wire. The Griffins took the first set, 25-23, to take the early match lead. Alvernia then used a quick burst at the end of the second set to overtake the Griffins and tie the match at 1-1 with a 25-23 set win. Alvernia took the lead on the match with a 25-22 third set win. The Golden Wolves then overcame a late six-point deficit in the fourth set to secure the set, 25-23, and the match, 3-1.

How it Happened

• Alvernia led 2-0 early in the first set after an opening-point kill by Allie Evangelista and an ace from Olivia Rohrbaugh. But, Alvernia's early lead did not last long. The Griffins went on an 11-3 run to take an 11-5 lead over the Golden Wolves.
• Alvernia chipped away and a Rohrbaugh kill brought Alvernia with three, 12-9, midway through the opening set. But, the Griffins built their lead back up to eight, 19-11, later in the set.
• A kill by Hailey McDevitt sparked an 8-1 run by Alvernia that quickly brought the Golden Wolves within one, 20-19. A pair of kills Angelina Salera and a pair of McDevitt aces also contributed to the run to bring Alvernia within one. The Golden Wolves then tied the set at 22-22 on a Griffin attack error. Gwynedd then fired off two quick kills to get to a 24-22 lead. A service error by the Griffins held off set-point, but the Griffins closed out the set, 25-23, on an Alvernia attack error.
• The second set was closely contested from the jump. Alvernia again took an early 2-0 lead on kills from Evangelista and McDevitt. The Griffins tied it up 3-3 on an ace, but a quick burst of four points from Alvernia that was capped by a McDevitt ace gave Alvernia a 7-4 lead.
• Alvernia's small lead did not last long as Gwynedd at 7-7 with back-to-back aces. The lead tied six more times until the Griffins took an 18-17 lead on an ace. Another Griffin ace and a bad set by the Golden Wolves gave Gwynedd a 20-17 second set lead.
• The Griffins then led 23-20 late in the set until a last-minute surge by the Golden Wolves. A Rohrbaugh kill, Evangelista block, and an Evangelista kill tied the set at 23-23. Two more kills from Evangelista then sealed the set for Alvernia, 25-23, and tied the match at 1-1.
• The Golden Wolves jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the third set after several errors by the Griffins. Alvernia then built its lead to 10-4 on a Rohrbaugh kill and three attack errors by Gwynedd. Alvernia then led 20-15 later on in the set on a block from McDevitt and Angelina Salera, but the Griffins hung around. Alvernia approached set point at 24-19 on an Evangelista kill. But, the Griffins held Alvernia off for three points before the Golden Wolves took the third set, 25-23, on a service error by Gwynedd.
• With Alvernia leading the match, 2-1, the Griffins started out the fourth set hot. Gwynedd took a 5-1 lead off the bat. Alvernia trailed early but tied the set at 11-11 on a kill from Rohrbaugh and a Griffins attack error. 
• Gwynedd broke the tie and looked to be pulling away from Alvernia in the fourth set with a 17-11 lead. But, Alvernia battled back and tied the set at 20-20 on another Rohrbaugh kill. Alvernia then took the lead, 22-20, on an attack error by the Griffins and a Rohrbaugh kill. The Griffins tied it back up at 22-22 and again at 23-23 before Alvernia was able to close it out thanks to a service error and bad set by the Griffins for the 25-23 set win and 3-1 match win.

Inside the Box Score

• Allie Evangelista led Alvernia with 17 kills off of 28 attacks with just two errors for a .536 hitting percentage. The 17 kills mark a career-high for Evangelista. She also finished with four blocks on the night.
• Olivia Rohrbaugh also reached double-digit kills with ten off of 38 attacks.
• Marli Emrich had solo setter duties tonight and recorded 37 assists.
• Caroline Buggy finished with 15 digs, and Emrich added another ten.
• Hailey McDevitt had a team-high four aces. She also had nine kills, 27 attacks, and three blocks.

Up Next

• Alvernia hosts a tri-match on Saturday. The Golden Wolves hosts Elizabethtown at 11:00 AM followed by Brooklyn College later in the day at 3:00 PM.