BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (October 15, 2021) – The Franklin Pierce University volleyball returned to play Friday evening in a non-conference matchup with the University of Bridgeport Purple Knights. Junior Tessa Brandt (Foster, RI) led the team with 13 kills, but it wasn't enough as the Ravens fell in three straight sets.

Freshman Hannah Hillis (San Clemente, Calif.) tallied a match high 14 digs, followed by sophomore Morgan Schmutzler (Lockport, Ill.), who totaled 11 digs of her own. Sophomore Maddie Ward (Wolfeboro, N.H.) dished out a team-leading 18 assists, while senior Kennedy Garnhart (Colorado Springs, Colo.) had 13 assists. Garnhart also collected three aces on the night.

The first set was close with a final score of 25-23 in favor of Bridgeport. Franklin Pierce fell early, but worked back to a tie score during the middle part of the set. The Purple Knights moved to a 24-19 lead before the Ravens scored four straight points to bring the set to within one. A kill, though, from Paola Hernandez helped clinch the set point for Bridgeport.

Set number two saw the biggest deficit of the match with the Purple Knights winning 25-18. Franklin Pierce led the set 8-6 and kept it close with the score moving to a 14-14 draw. Bridgeport would find their groove and outscore the Ravens, 9-4, en route to the set point and a 2-0 lead in the match.

The third and final set of the match was the closest with an extra point needed for Bridgeport to clinch the 26-24 victory. The Ravens jumped out to a 6-1 lead early in the set, and later lead 24-23 with a chance to keep the match alive. Three straight points from the Purple Knights aided them to secure the match point and a 3-0 shutout victory.

With the loss Franklin Pierce moves to 8-7 overall, while Bridgeport improves to 10-8 on the season.

The Ravens return to Northeast-10 Conference play next week on Tuesday, October 19, for a match against the American International College Yellow Jackets at 7 P.M. in the Field House.