READING, PA - Penn State Berks was swept by Messiah University, 25-19, 25-19, 25-17, in there final nonconference match of the season on Friday, October 17 at Beaver Athletics & Wellness Center. 

The first set began with Berks taking an early lead after an attack error by Messiah's Cynthia Boller. Despite a back-and-forth exchange that saw Messiah briefly pull ahead, strong plays from Ella Griffiths and Marissa Bailey kept the score close, with Griffiths securing a kill to tie the game at 8-8. The Nittany Lions struggled to maintain momentum, as Messiah capitalized on several attack errors to extend their lead. Julia Zaprazny and Madelyn Caris contributed key kills, but Messiah's consistent attacks and a late run allowed them to close out the set with a 25-19 advantage.

The second set began with Messiah establishing early control, capitalizing on a series of errors to take a 4-1 lead. Despite Berks' efforts to counter, including a kill by Griffiths and multiple contributions from Zaprazny, the visitors maintained their advantage. A key service ace from Swoyer brought Berks closer, but Messiah's consistent offense extended the margin. As the set progressed, Berks showed resilience with a late surge, highlighted by a block from Caris and another kill from Bailey. However, Messiah's attack remained effective, closing the set with a 25-19 win, maintaining their overall lead in the match.

In the third set, the Nittany Lions sought to shift momentum but faced early challenges as Messiah secured an early lead. Caris provided a notable offensive spark with multiple kills, aided by assists from Swoyer. A service ace by Sophie Harris offered a brief rally, but Messiah's consistent attack, led by Makenzie Adams, maintained their momentum. As the set progressed, Berks capitalized on service errors from Messiah, narrowing the gap slightly with Caris continuing to contribute offensively. Despite these efforts, Messiah responded with a strong finish, closing the set with a 25-17 win, completing their sweep.

Swoyer posted 17 assists and added two service aces across three sets. Caris contributed eight kills and seven digs, leading the team in points with nine. Zaprazny recorded six kills with a .333 hitting percentage over three sets. Griffiths finished with five kills and a team-high 10 digs.

WHO'S NEXT
Berks will have a short turnaround as they host Gallaudet University on October 18 in Reading, PA. The match will begin at 1:00 PM

FOLLOW US
Fans can keep up with Berks Athletics all season long on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube using the handle @BerksAthletics.