Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Rockville Centre, N.Y. - (9/1/2017) – The 2017 season opened in earnest this evening, Friday, September 1, as Chestnut Hill College traveled to Rockville Centre, New York, for two days of competition at Molloy College. Their first match of the day placed the Griffins opposite Merrimack College, who performed efficiently in a 3-0 (28-26, 25-23, 25-18) win over the Scarlet and Gold. Sophomore outside hitter Reily Byxbee (Madison, Conn.) and junior setter Kennedy Sutton (Chesapeake, Va.) were top players for Chestnut Hill College; the former killed 12 attacks on a .265 (12K-3E-34TA) hitting percentage while the latter supplied 22 assists and one of the Griffins' four aces. Sutton stood out even more in the second match of the day, leading the Chestnut Hill College charge versus the Lions with 36 assists, 11 digs, and three blocks (1 solo, 2 assists). Unfortunately, the effort was not enough to push the Griffins past their hosts in a 3-1 (25-23, 24-26, 22-25, 18-25) final.
 
Chestnut Hill College (0-2) emerged from an early deficit for a brief 10-7 lead, but Merrimack College (0-1) tied the set at 11-11 before the Griffins reestablished their advantage with a 7-1 run that forced a Warrior timeout at 21-15. Regrettably, Merrimack College had one more rally in them as they eclipsed the Scarlet and Gold on the doorstep of victory, 24-24, and eventually separated for a 28-26 win. Chestnut Hill College led nearly the whole way in the second set, but Merrimack College again recovered. This time, surpassing the Griffins at midway through (14-14) a 25-23 set victory. The Warriors led from start-to-finish in the third set, gradually growing their advantage until a 25-18 triumph. In support of Byxbee, sophomore middle hitter Cassie Callahan (St. Louis, Mo.) and freshman middle hitter Corrine Kalala (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) recording five and four kills, respectively. Sophomore defensive specialist Kara Turtzer (La Habra Heights, Calif.) (10 digs) and senior libero Peyton Reno (Wilmington, Del.) (18 digs) each score an ace and captained the defensive effort with a combined 28 digs.
 
Looking to get in the win column, Chestnut Hill College gave a determined effort in the following match versus Molloy College. After landing on the short end of a competitive 25-23 first-set final, the Griffins united for a late rally in a 26-24 second-set win. The score never separated by more than two points in the frame with the Scarlet and Gold claiming victory on back-to-back kills from Callahan and Byxbee.

Unfortunately, the home team regained their composure and won the match by securing the next two sets 25-22 and 25-18. Sutton targeted senior right side Samantha Gelfan (Chandler, Ariz.) and Kalala for 10 kills apiece. Byxbee offered seven kills and 15 digs, while sophomore defensive specialist Janie Green (Hayes, Va.) made 14 digs in excess of two assists and an ace. Reno totaled a career-high 32 digs in addition to providing four assists.
 
The Chestnut Hill College women's volleyball team continues their time at Molloy College tomorrow, Saturday, September 2, with matches against West Liberty University (12:00 p.m.) and the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT, 2:00 p.m.).