ROSEMONT – The Rosemont Ravens volleyball team (0-3) came within a whisker of winning a couple of key sets that would have placed them in line to win their first match of the year, but it was not to be this afternoon. Ultimately, the Ravens fell to Bryn Athyn (25-16, 26-24, 25-17) and to New Jersey City University (25-6, 23-25, 25-13, 25-17). With all of the results, the Lions of Bryn Athyn are now 3-0 on the season while NJCU is now 2-1.
Match 1 – Bryn Athyn 3, Rosemont 0
After losing the first set, 25-16, the Ravens snapped back in the second. The Ravens got out to a 12-8 lead, and still maintained a 13-9 lead, but the Lions came back with five straight points. The two teams tasked with Rosemont retaking the lead at 18-17, but again Bryn Athyn came up with a streak, this time four points to regain a 21-18 lead.
Rosemont wouldn't quit, though, and they worked hard to regain a 22-21 advantage. The Ravens still led 24-23 but could not put the set away as the Lions put together three straight points to take the set.
The Ravens had more chances early in the 3rd set, running out to a 4-2 lead. The teams would be tied at seven points apiece, but Bryn Athyn would start to slowly pull away.
Morgan Rollins had seven kills while Nadirah Anderson and Rollins each had two service aces to lead the Ravens. Sabrina Heggan was credited with 13 assists and Kayla Thompson had five digs to lead the Ravens.
Match 2 – NJCU 3, Rosemont 1
The Ravens started slow after their lunch break and the visiting Gothic Knights from NJCU opened up with a 9-0 run to open the first set.
Not content to be beaten in the 2nd set, the Ravens stormed back to claim their first set of the season. Rosemont fell behind early, 5-2, but put together a five-point run to get on top 7-5. The lead would be extended to 15-10, and later 20-15, but NJCU snuck up on the Ravens narrowing Rosemont's lead to 22-20. After a Rosemont timeout, the teams traded points and a kill from Morgan Rollins would end the set with the Ravens winning 25-23.
The Ravens continued their momentum opening the third set to grab a 7-2 lead, but the Gothic Knights would slice the lead to 8-5 before the Ravens called timeout. Tied 8-8, An attack error by the Ravens would put the Gothic Knights on top to stay in the set, as NJCU won nine of the next 10 points to take control of the set.
In the deciding set, a kill by Rollins got the Ravens to within a point of the lead, trailing 6-5, but NJCU would open up a 16-11 lead. The Ravens turned on the heat in an already-hot Alumnae Hall to win the next four points to get to within a point at 16-15. After that, NJCU put together a string of four points that would give them the cushion they needed to claim the final set and the match.
In this match, Maria Athanasiadis and Morgan Rollins each had seven kills to lead the Ravens. Leilani Carter and Sabrina Heggan each led Rosemont with three service aces, while Heggan had 16 assists. Athanasiadis also had six digs to top that category for Rosemont.
The Ravens return to action on Thursday, 9/10 when they take the short trip across Montgomery Avenue to face the Bryn Mawr Owls in a 7:00pm non-conference match.
In the other match of today's tri-match, Bryn Athyn defeated NJCU, 3-0.
