READING, PA- The Penn State Berks Women's Volleyball team dropped its home opener, falling to New Jersey City University in four sets on Saturday, with set , September 13, falling by set scores of 25-19, 33-31, 23-25, 25-15.

The first set began with Berks taking an early lead, highlighted by an initial kill from Madelyn Caris assisted by Libby Swoyer. Despite this strong start, the Gothic Knights responded with a series of successful plays, including a notable service ace by Elisabeth Brito, to gain momentum. The Nittany Lions attempted a late comeback, with Ella Griffiths and Emily Snader each recording key kills from Swoyer, but the Gothic Knights ultimately closed out the set with a 25-19 victory.

The second set opened with a back-and-forth exchange, highlighted by Griffiths and Snader's early kills, keeping the score close at 4-4. Swoyer was instrumental in feeding her teammates, registering multiple assists including a critical kill by Caris to tie the game at 23-23. The set extended into a tense struggle, with Berks responding to each push by the Gothic Knights, ultimately falling short in a 33-31 battle despite Swoyer's standout performance in setting up key plays.

Berks secured a hard-fought victory in the third set with a 25-23 scoreline against the Gothic Knights, showcasing a resilient comeback after trailing mid-set. Key contributions came from Caris, who delivered multiple kills, including the decisive final point. Swoyer was instrumental with several assists, supporting a crucial late rally that saw Nittany Lions overturn a two-point deficit to clinch the set.

In the fourth set, Berks faced a challenging momentum shift early on as the Gothic Knights capitalized on a series of errors, surging to an 8-2 lead. Despite the deficit, Caris was a standout performer for Penn State Berks, achieving multiple kills, including a crucial one at 16-7, supported by Swoyer's precise sets. An attempted comeback saw Penn State Berks close the gap to 21-13 with a service ace and consistent attacks, but the Gothic Knights maintained their advantage to secure the set 25-15.

Caris led Berks with 14 kills and 15 digs, contributing significantly to the team's efforts. Griffiths followed closely, finishing with 13 kills and three service aces, totaling 17 points. Karlie Kerschner recorded a team-high 20 digs, providing strong defensive support throughout the match. Swoyer added 33 assists, facilitating the offensive plays effectively.

WHO'S NEXT
Looking ahead, the Penn State Berks volleyball team faces Moravian University on Monday, Sept. 15. The match is set for 7:00 PM. in Bethlehem, PA.

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