Box Score Millersville, Pa. – (9/6/2013) – For the Chestnut Hill College women's volleyball team, the 2013 season opened at the Millersville University Tournament with a match against the hosting Marauders. The Marauders pulled away in the back half of the first set, 25-15, narrowly escaped a Griffin rally in the second set, 26-24, and sealed the victory 3-0 (25-15, 26-24, 25-8) in the third set, 25-8. Freshman setter Emily Drew (Ringoes, N.J.) put the exclamation point on the Griffins late second set rally and led the team with 18 assists, an ace, and five digs.
 
Seniors, outside hitter Alexandra DePalma (Shillington, Pa.) and middle hitter Mary Markowski (Parkton, Md.) kept Chestnut Hill College (0-1) in contention off the opening serve, 10-10, but the home side eventually forced a Griffin timeout at 19-13before winning the first set 25-15. The second set was neck-and-neck with an early Griffin lead, 4-1, giving way to a 9-9 tie, and a 15-11 Millersville University (1-0) edge on the Griffins mid-frame timeout. Following the respite, the Griffins strong defensive effort forced two Marauder errors before Drew scored a game-halting strike, 23-20. With three more Marauder mishaps after the timeout, the Griffins pulled even with the home team at 23-23. It knotted once again at 24-24 on kill by freshman outside hitter Madison McBride (Long Beach, Calif.), before senior opposite Rebecca Roman (Springfield, Pa.) and sophomore outside hitter Taylor Smith (Lancaster, Pa.) scored the set's final two points in the Marauder favor, 26-24. Following the frenzy, the Marauders made short work of the Griffins in the third set 25-8.
 
Senior opposite Rebecca Roman (Springfield, Pa.) headlined the Marauder effort with 10 kills on a .500 (10K-2E-16TA) hitting percentage and three blocks. With the compliment of junior outside hitter Katie Lesinski (Schwenksville, Pa.) and the twin setter support of freshman Erika Smith (Honey Brook, Pa.) and senior Jessica Franz (New Freedom, Pa.). Lesinski recorded nine kills, two ace, and five digs. Smith totaled 14 assists, two aces, and five digs, while Franz finished the night with 12 assists, an ace, six digs, and a block. Junior middle hitter Mary Paul (Philadelphia, Pa.) also influenced the victory with three kills, three aces, a dig, and four blocks.
 
In addition to Drew, DePalma and Markowski scored six kills apiece each atop the Griffin box score. Each recorded two blocks, but DePalma added an ace and three digs to her performance. McBride score five kills and hustled for a dig while freshman libero Regina Trabosh (Norristown, Pa.) led captained the Griffins defensive effort with ten digs.
 
The women's volleyball team remains at Millersville University to challenge Franklin Pierce University and Holy Family University, tomorrow, September 7, in 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. matches, respectively.