Lions fall in three sets at Brandywine

Media, Pa. - Hazleton's difficulties on the road continued on Thursday night following the Lion's 3-0 defeat at Penn State Brandywine. The Nittany Lions combined for just 21 points in the first two sets of the night before matching that total in a closely contested third set. Hazleton led midway through the final set before a late run by Brandywine sealed up the three set sweep, dropping Hazleton's record to 1-4 in Penn State University Athletic Conference play. 

A five point run midway through set one left Hazleton trailing 18-7 and Brandywine cruised to a 25-11 opening set victory utilizing seven service aces in the period. After trailing early in the second frame, Hazleton mounted a comeback, closing the gap to four points with kills from Alessandra Banta (Coatesville, Pa.) and Natasha Feliciano (Cainovas, PR) but a 10 point run by Brandywine's Suzie Alvarenga from behind the service line shut down the Hazleton attack and giving Brandywine a two sets to none advantage by the score of 25-10. 

Ally Banta and Kayla Nothstein combined for six kills in the third set and Hazleton surged ahead midway through the frame with a 14-13 lead. The Lions remained within two points down the stretch until Brandywine claimed three of the final four points of the match to put Hazleton away. Nothstein finished the game with a team high seven kills, two aces and 12 digs while Banta added four kills and eight assists respectively. 

Next up: Hazleton is back on the court on Friday night when the Lions host Penn State Lehigh Valley in Dr. Thomas M. Caccese Gymnasium at 7:00 p.m.