Philadelphia, Pa. - (9/18/2019) – Chestnut Hill College traveled down the 76 East tonight, Wednesday, September 18, to open their Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) schedule with a match at cross-city rival, the University of the Sciences (USciences). The Devils used their home court advantage to their advantage, gaining a 2-0 edge on the Griffins with opening wins of 25-20 and 25-21. In the third set, the Scarlet and Gold reversed the momentum with an efficient .379 (15K-4E-29TA) hitting percentage that spurred them to a 25-18 victory in that frame and a 25-22 victory in the fourth (2-2). Unfortunately, USciences set the tone in the deciding frame, pacing Chestnut Hill College to a 15-11 conclusion (3-2). Freshman setter Henielys Ramos (Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico) was the top performer, totaling a team-high 16.5 points (15 kills, 1 ace, 1 block assist), 19 assists, and 10 digs.
 
Chestnut Hill College (2-6, 0-1) played strong off the opening serve, capitalizing on the play of senior right side Cassie Callahan (St. Louis, Mo.) to grab an 8-1 lead and force an early USciences (3-5, 2-0) timeout. But the Devils tied the affair at 12-12 and paced the Griffins to a 25-20 (1-0) end behind five kills and six digs from senior outside hitter Sarah Miller (Harpursville, N.Y.). USciences used a late rally to improve their position with a 25-21 victory in the second set (2-0). But the momentum soon changed hands as Ramos and Callahan took turns directing the Griffins out to a 16-8 lead in the third set. A pair of big kills from senior outside hitter Reily Byxbee (Madison, Conn.) and a Devil miscue brought the frame to an 25-18 (2-1), Chestnut Hill College conclusion. The Scarlet and Gold led early and late in the fourth set, securing a 12-7 lead and falling behind the Devils 18-16 before rising from the ashes for a 25-22 (2-2). Everything came down to the deciding frame, where USciences used an opening 5-1 run to pace the Griffins to an 11-5 edge and an eventual 15-11 (3-2) end.
 
Miller led USciences with 23.5 points; overall, she recorded 19 kills, four aces, 17 digs, and a block assist. Sophomore outside hitter Bianca Galis (Toms River, N.J.) was just as valuable to the Devils' success with 16 kills, an assist, an ace, 16 digs, and a block assist. Sophomore setter Caelin Jaskot (Mahwah. N.J.) was the supplier, providing USciences with 51 assists in excess of a kill and four digs. Sophomore defensive specialist Danielle Taylor (Mount Holly, N.J.) and freshman middle blocker Kerrigan Clem (Bel Air, Md.) captained Devil defense with 19 digs and 3.5 blocks (2 solo blocks, 3 block assists).
 
Callahan and junior outside hitter Corrine Kalala (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) joined Ramos at the helm of the Scarlet and Gold effort. Callahan finished with five kills, 25 assists, seven digs, and three block assists, while Kalala offered 14 kills, an assist, a dig, and two block assists, to the Chestnut Hill College performance. Byxbee, Ramos, and sophomore right side Lauren Lipinski (Gilbert, Ariz.) recorded the Griffins' only aces, while junior middle hitter Ragen Baldwin (Lancaster, Pa.), sophomore defensive specialist Kerri Sullivan (Coatesville, Pa.), and senior libero Janie Green (Hayes, Va.) headlined the Scarlet and Gold defense. Baldwin led a 12.5 team blocking effort with a solo block and eight block assists. Sullivan (13 digs) and Green (10 digs) combined for 23 digs.
 
Chestnut Hill College briefly breaks from their CACC schedule to welcome Adelphi University to Sorgenti Arena for a 4:00 p.m. home opener on Friday, September 20.