WEST CHESTER, Pa. (September 1, 2018) – The Franklin Pierce University volleyball team concluded their trip to Ramfest 2018 hosted by West Chester University with a 2-2 record across four contests spanning Friday and Saturday. After going 1-1 Friday, the Ravens again won the opener and lost the backend of a doubleheader defeating Goldey-Beacom College 3-1 (25-15, 25-21, 23-25, 25-6) before falling to Fairmont State University 3-0 (22-25, 16-25, 11-25). The Ravens record moved to 2-7 on the young season.

Freshman outside hitter Cierra Dolan (Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) paced FPU's offensive attack this weekend as she totaled 38 kills on .200 hitting to go along with six blocks and 11 digs. Junior outside hitter Sarah Roach (Provo, Utah) had 25 kills, seven aces, and 22 digs while Mary Pease (East Haddam, Conn.) handed out 98 assists while recording 33 digs, 12 kills and three stuffs. On the defensive end, Marisa Lamb (Phoenix, Ariz.) had 58 digs and Breanna Mineweaser (Honey Brook, Pa.) led the squad with seven total blocks.

Game One: Ravens 3, Lightning 1 (25-15, 25-21, 23-25, 25-6)

As a team, FPU hit .292 in the duel against Goldey-Beacom and they recorded 10 blocks while their counterparts scored none. Cierra Dolan tallied a team-high 13 kills in the match to go along with five digs, three assists, and two total blocks. Jocelyn Moody (Biddeford, Maine) chipped in nine kills, a .391 hitting percentage, six digs and two service aces. Sarah Roach had an all-around showing producing eight kills, a .318 hitting percentage, six digs, three assists and two aces. Setter Mary Pease hit .462 with seven kills, nine digs, and a match-best 29 helpers.

For the Lightning, Julia Syrdahl had a game-high 19 kills and a team-best 12 digs in the four-set defeat.

Both squads went back and forth swapping possessions in the early stages of the first set until FPU tallied seven straight points with Moody serving to give the Ravens a 17-11 advantage. The Crimson and Grey continued to pile on as Lamb and Dolan kills upped the score to 22-14. Two straight Moody kills completed the Raven set one victory at 25-15.

FPU staked out to a 5-1 lead in the second set as Roach planted an ace in the area of Shayla Boyce. The Lightning stormed ahead via Seven straight points to lead 8-5 following a Raven attack error. Dolan and Mineweaser knotted the score at eight all with an assisted block of Syrdahl. Trailing by four, 14-10, the Ravens strung together some good offensive chances to bring the set to a deadlock once again at 16-16. A Raven attack miscue kept the set tied at 20, but Pierce took a commanding 2-0 set advantage after a GBC attack error.

The Lightning won the hotly contested third set by squeaking out a two-point victory late. The Ravens tied the set 23-23 and were only two points away from a sweep, but back-to-back kills by Shayla Boyce and Lindsay Przywara clinched a 25-23 win for the Lightning. In the final set, the Ravens dominated, opening competition with eight straight points. Their lead eventually built up to 17-6 and they closed the match recording the final eight points.

Game Two: Fighting Falcons 3, Ravens 0 (22-25, 16-25, 11-25)

Dolan produced a team-best eight kills and a .278 hitting percentage with two blocks and two digs. Junior middle blocker Abigail Garnhart (Colorado Springs, Colo.) hit .357 in the setback with seven kills. Two players recorded double-digit kills for Fairmont State. Emily Suppel racked up a .714 hitting percentage and 10 kills while Emma Mobley led her team in kills (11) and digs (13).

A Pease and Dolan connection tied the first set 5-5 early on. Three consecutive points by Fairmont including a Mobley kill pushed the Fighting Falcons in front 8-5. A Raven attack error grew FSU's edge to 15-9 before Moody cut the Raven deficit to three 20-17 with a kill. Bri Washburn ended the set by killing an attack attempt to take the first set.

FPU never led in the second set as the closest they came was 2-2 after a Dolan kill. Holding a 14-9 lead, Fairmont went on a 7-1 scoring spurt to increase their advantage to 21-10. The Ravens came within seven following a bad set by Kelsey Moeller, but a Mobley kill and a Raven attack error put the Fighting Falcons in the driver's seat 2-0.

Fairmont rolled in the third set as they clawed past the Ravens early for a 7-1 lead. FPU came within one, 8-7 as Dolan stuffed Emily Cordle's attack attempt. The Fighting Falcons went on a 12-1 scoring binge over the next 13 serves to siege control of the match.

The Ravens remain away from the friendly confines of the Fieldhouse next Friday when they travel Wilmington University (Del.) for the first day of the Wildcat Invitational.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://fpuravens.com). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (https://www.bkstr.com/franklinpiercestore/shop/apparel-and-accessories). You can also follow the volleyball program on Twitter (https://twitter.com/FPURavensVB) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/fpuravensvb/).