Volleyball Splits Contests at First Day of Wildcat Regional Invite

NEWARK, Del. (September 7, 2018) – The Franklin Pierce University volleyball team went 1-1 on the first day of the 2018 Wildcat Regional Invitational hosted by the University of Wilmington (Del.) Friday afternoon. The Crimson and Grey earned a comeback 3-1 (17-25, 28-26, 25-19, 25-13) victory against Chestnut Hill College before falling to Jefferson University 3-1 (11-25, 14-25, 26-24, 13-25). The .500 day sends the Ravens to 3-8 early on in the season.

Freshman outside hitter Cierra Dolan (Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) tallied a team-high 19 kills Friday to go along with four digs and three total blocks. Team captain Abigail Garnhart (Colorado Springs, Colo.) had 18 kills, a .250 hitting percentage, five blocks, and three digs. Junior defensive specialist Jocelyn Moody (Biddeford, Maine) stuffed the stat sheet with 15 kills, 20 digs, and four service aces. On the defensive end, Marisa Lamb (Phoenix, Ariz.) totaled 42 digs with Brittney Carias (Burlingame, Calif.) adding 25.

Game One: Ravens 3, Griffins 1 (17-25, 28-26, 25-19, 25-13)

The Ravens fell behind 1-0 in the early going before they turned it on over the next three sets to earn the 3-1 win. Cierra Dolan and Abigail Garnhart totaled double-digit kills with 13 and 10 each. Both players hit well as Dolan chipped in a .300 hitting percentage and Garnhart added a .280% showing. Marisa Lamb recorded the ninth most digs during a single match in program history with 31 tying current teammate Jocelyn Moody, Lauren Miller (2010-13) and Michelle McConnell (2003-06). Freshman setter Lauren Herrera (Simi Valley, Calif.) doled out 32 assists and Brittney Carias continued her march to 1,000 career digs chipping in 18 on the defensive side.

For the Griffins, Lauren Lipinski hit .423 and had 12 kills while Corrine Kalala produced 11 kills of her own.

The Ravens never led in the opening set as the Griffins jumped out to an early 4-0 advantage on the strength of a dual block by Regan Baldwin and Kalala. Five consecutive points by the Crimson and Grey including a Moody service ace cut the deficit to 14-11, the closest the Ravens would come through the first serves.

In the second set, the Ravens took their first lead of the match at 11-10 following a four-point scoring spurt including two CHC miscues, a Carias ace and a Breanna Mineweaser (Honey Brook, Pa.) kill. A Herrera and Abigail Garnhart connection from the middle of the floor upped the Ravens advantage to four, 17-13. Five straight by the Griffins regained the advantage to their side at 18-17. The Ravens scrapped back and were one point away from a victory following a Lamb ace to the back end line, but an FPU attack error sent the game into extra serves. Trailing by one 26-25 and staring at a 2-0 match deficit, Regan Baldwin served the ball into the net. With the set once again deadlocked, Abigail Garnhart gave the Ravens the brief edge before Kalala committed an attack error to clinch a 28-26 set victory for FPU.

Both squads traded points and possessions over the course of the third set until the Ravens took charge during the middle of the frame. Holding on to a one point 14-13 lead, a Griffin service error and a Mineweaser solo block jumpstarted the Ravens attack. Moody tallied two kills in the 5-0 mini-binge to push the Ravens ahead 20-13. A Regan Baldwin kill brought it to a three-point game, but FPU outscored their counterparts 4-1 over the remainder of the crucial set.

The Ravens dominated the match-clinching set with an efficient offense and a defense that forced the Griffins into numerous mistakes. Ahead 15-10, the Ravens advantage grew to 20-10 via five consecutive kills with two coming from Moody and two by Abigail Garnhart. Moody ended up winning the set and game on her match-high third service ace.

Game Two: Rams 3, Ravens 1 (11-25, 14-25, 26-24, 13-25)

Moody and Abigail Garnhart led the way in the second game with eight kills apiece. Moody tacked on 13 digs on the defensive end along with one service ace. Setter Mary Pease (East Haddam, Conn.) handed out 24 assists and racked up 10 digs of her own. Three players for Jefferson produced double-digit kills as Logan Dontell led all players with 11. Alexandra Harrington handed out 53 assists in the win.

In the first set, an attack error and a Moody service ace gave the Ravens an early 2-0 lead. Jefferson promptly went on an 11-2 scoring run to take an 11-4 advantage following a Raven attack error. A Harrington and Amber Johnson connection increased the edge to 23-7 before the Ravens cut into the deficit 24-11 off a bad set.

Jefferson started fast in the second set to lead 10-2 after another Raven mistake. An Ariana Rosario kill grew the score to a set high 11 at 17-6. Mariah Cadzow and Olivia Manning combined for the final three kills to hold a 2-0 set advantage.

The third set saw the Ravens battle back from 23-19 deficit to fend off a sweep. A Jefferson service error, a Dolan kill and a Sarah Roach (Provo, Utah) ace pushed the Ravens within one at 23-22. Amber Johnson put her squad one point away from a sweep until the Ravens rallied yet again. A Moody kill and a stuff by Dolan and Abigail Garnhart tied the match at 24-24. Moody immediately pushed the Crimson and Grey within one point from a stunning set three victory. The comeback was complete when Daniela Cintron committed an attack error. The Rams put the match on ice in the fourth set winning by a 25-13 margin.

The Ravens wrap up the Wildcat Invitational tomorrow with two contests against Holy Family University (12:00 p.m.) and host Wilmington (4:00 p.m.).

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 (http://fpuravens.com/store). You can also follow the volleyball program on Twitter (https://twitter.com/FPURavensVB) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/fpuravensvb/).