WEST CHESTER, Pa. (September 3, 2021) – The Franklin Pierce University volleyball team split its first two matches of the season in a doubleheader at Ram Fest, hosted by West Chester University. The Ravens first faced off against Goldey-Beacom for a five-set contest, picking up their first victory of the season over the Lightning, 3-2 (25-17, 20-25, 26-24, 25-22, 15-7), before falling to host West Chester, 3-0 (30-32, 20-25, 23-25), in the second match at Hollinger Field House on Friday evening.

With the split, Franklin Pierce moves to 1-1 on the season.

Match 1: Franklin Pierce 3, Goldey-Beacom  2 (25-17, 20-25, 26-24, 25-22, 15-7)

In the first match, Franklin Pierce took control early in the fifth set. After back and forth points from each team to make it 2-2, the Ravens collected two more points to make it a 4-2 lead, including a kill by freshman Hannah Hillis (San Clemente, Calif.).

Goldey-Beacom quickly tied the game at four apiece, before the Crimson and Grey ran off three straight points with a kill from junior Ingrid Lindstrom (Dudley, Mass.). GThe Lightning received a point back, but kills from Hillis and junior Tessa Brandt (Foster, R.I.), and a service ace from Hillis made it a 10-5 set.  

A kill from Goldey-Beacom's Savannah Boyce closed the gap to 10-6, before Hillis and Brandt earned two more points for Franklin Pierce on kills to double the score, 12-6. Goldey-Beacom tallied one last point of the set, but the Ravens closed out the match with the final three points that included two kills from Brandt for a final score of 15-7.

Junior Mariah Robles (West Covina, Calif.) and Hillis led the way with 16 kills each, while hitting a .317 and a .382 in the match, respectively. Brandt and senior Cierra Dolan (Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) contributed nine kills of their own. The offense worked off the sets of senior Kennedy Garnhart (Colorado Springs, Colo.), who dished out a team-leading 35 assists, and sophomore Maddie Ward (Wolfeboro, N.H.), who totaled 14 assists. Garnhart also led the team in aces with three. Sophomore Morgan Schmutzler (Lockport, Ill.) amassed 25 digs to lead the Ravens, while Hillis added 12 of her own. Lindstrom chalked up three blocks (one solo) to lead all players.

On the other side of the net, Goldey-Beacom received 17 kills from Julia Syrdahl, hitting a .400 in the process. Piper Nanouski added 13 kills, while Shayla Boyce tallied 11. Autumn Spendlove provided 48 assists, while reaching double digits in digs, as well, with 17 total. Neyshlian Roman Concepcion piled up a team-leading 29 digs, and Syrdahl led the team in blocks with two (one solo).

Match 2: West Chester 3, Franklin Pierce 0 (30-32, 20-25, 23-25)

Hillis had a game-high 10 kills in the match versus West Chester, hitting a .308. Brandt, Dolan and Robles all followed close behind with nine, eight and seven, respectively. Garnhart produced 18 assists, while Ward added 15 of her own. Schmutzler tallied 20 digs and Brandt totaled 11. Both Hillis and Brandt earned one ace apiece. Lindstrom had a team-leading six blocks (two solo).

For the Golden Rams, Sarah Polacek led the way with 16 kills, with Grace Whitney following behind with 14. Polacek also led the team with 14 digs. Jamie Byrne provided a staggering 42 assists and 13 digs. Three Golden Rams had two aces each.

In the first set, Franklin Pierce and West Chester kept the score close, tying at 5-5 from a kill by Hillis. The two teams tied, 19-19, with a kill from Dolan, before the Crimson and Grey pulled ahead 21-19. The set saw nine more ties, eventually with the Golden Rams making it 30 points apiece off a kill from Olivia Rudjord. Tallying two more kills, Whitney and Polacek ended the set 32-30.

The Ravens jumped to an early lead in the second set to make it a 7-3 contest. West Chester rallied to earn six straight points to lead 10-7, before adding another four consecutive points, pushing the lead to 14-8. Franklin Pierce narrowed the gap to 24-20, but Rudjord collected the final point of the set on a kill.

After a few ties, Franklin Pierce took a late 13-12 lead, pushing the margin, eventually, to 22-18. The Golden Rams answered back with five straight points to pulled ahead by one, but the Ravens earned the point back to tie it up, 23-23. The final two points went West Chester's way, including a kill by Polacek.

The Ravens are back at it again Saturday, September 4, to wrap up play at the Ram Fest. Franklin Pierce is set for a 12 p.m. matchup against Jefferson, before taking on Millersville at 2 p.m. at Hollinger Field House.