WORCESTER, Mass. (November 13, 2021) – With postseason hopes on the line on both sides of the court, the Franklin Pierce University volleyball team got a 19-kill, 23-dig double-double from junior Tessa Brandt (Foster, R.I.) on Saturday afternoon at Laska Gymnasium. It would not be enough though, as the Ravens came up on the short end of a 3-2 decision (20-25, 27-25, 28-26, 23-25, 15-9) and saw their season come to a close at the hands of host Assumption, which claimed the eighth and final spot in the Northeast-10 Conference Championship.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce sees its season come to an end at 12-12 (6-7 NE10), while Assumption improves to 8-11 (6-7 NE10). Assumption took the league's final postseason spot by way of a three-way tiebreaker, as the Greyhounds had head-to-head victories over both the Ravens and Adelphi.

The match was a very close contest throughout every set. The first set was tightly contested and was tied at 10-10 before Franklin Pierce pulled away to earn a 25-20 victory. In the second, Franklin Pierce rallied to tie the set at 25-25, before Assumption would score two straight points to even the match. In the third set, Franklin Pierce once again struggled early, and trailed 16-9 at one point, but came back to force another lengthy set, though Assumption ultimately pulled out a 28-26 victory.

The teams traded points late in the fourth set, before the Ravens would win 25-23 and force a fifth and final set. In the final set of the game, Franklin Pierce notched the first two points, before the Greyhounds would score six straight to take an early advantage. Despite their attempts to come back, the Ravens would fall to the Greyhounds by a set score of 15-9.

For Franklin Pierce, Brandt led the way with 19 kills. Freshman Hannah Hillis (San Clemente, Calif.) contributed 16 kills, and junior Mariah Robles (West Covina, Calif.) added 14 kills on the day. Senior Kennedy Garnhart (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and sophomore Maddie Ward (Wolfeboro, N.H.) were the playmakers, as Garnhart earned 32 assists and Ward chipped in 24. Sophomore Morgan Schmutzler (Lockport, Ill.) led the team in digs with 25, while Brandt (23), Hillis (19) and Robles (13) all earned double digits as well.

For Assumption, freshman Alexis Distasio had a day, as she notched 24 kills to lead her team to victory. She had some help from three other Assumption players in double digits: freshman Carly Goodhue with 15, senior Alana Hruska with 12, and freshman Ruthie Ridderhoff with 11. Junior Kyra Belden notched a season-best 59 assists. Freshman Barbara Illig led all players with 33 digs, while Distasio added 20, and senior Alexandra Krawcyzk contributed 19.