Brandywine Sweeps St. Elizabeth Tri-Match

MORRISTOWN, N.J. -- Penn State Brandywine won a pair of matches at the College of St. Elizabeth on Sunday afternoon, winning in straight sets against both the host Eagles and the Culinary Institute of America.

The Lions (5-1) had no problem defeating Culinary, winning by set scores of 25-8, 25-12, 25-9.

Lauren Kelly (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown East) and Nikki Poissant (Aston, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) both recorded nine kills to lead the Lions offensively. Margot Gargus (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown East), Hannah Sarafinas (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown West) and Nicolette Napoleon (Springfield, Pa./Penn Charter) all tallied five kills, while Sullivan Stark (Middletown, Del./William Penn) collected 25 assists, including the 1000th of her career, and a pair of service aces.

Gargus added three aces and led the team with nine digs. Poissant registered seven digs, while Kelly amassed six and Stark totaled five.

Brandywine won the first two sets by scores of 25-10 and 25-20 before outlasting St. Elizabeth in a marathon third set, 31-29, to clinch its second victory of the day.

Poissant and Gargus combined for 21 of Brandywine's 32 kills and 11 of the Lions' 14 aces against the Eagles as Poissant recorded 11 kills and six aces and Gargus tallied 10 kills and five aces. Stark added 24 assists and three kills, along with 12 digs.

Defensively, Gargus led all players with 17 digs, while Poissant and Kelly both registered 13 and Becca Civera (Boothwyn, Pa./Chichester) totaled six.

Brandywine is idle until Sept. 19 when the Lions open conference play at Penn State Mont Alto (7:00 pm).