Shippensburg, Pa. - (9/6/2019) – The 2019 season began today, Friday, September 6, for Chestnut Hill College, who visited Shippensburg University for the opening day of the Raider Classic. The Scarlet and Gold won their first set of the day with a 25-21 initial effort against Kutztown University, but the Golden Bears reciprocated with victories of 25-15, 25-22, and 25-22 to take the opening match of the event. Later, the hosting Raiders defeated the Griffins by a 3-0 (15-25, 16-25, 9-25) measure. Junior outside hitter Corrine Kalala (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) and freshman setter Henielys Ramos (Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico) headlined Chestnut Hill College's day-one performance; the former offered 13 kills on a .286 (13K-3E-35TA) hitting percentage and a pair of block assists, while the latter contributed across the board with 10 kills, 26 assists, two aces, and 27 digs.
 
Ramos and Kalala connected late in the first set versus Kutztown University (1-0), helping Chestnut Hill College (0-2) put the Golden Bears away by a 25-21 margin. Unfortunately, Kutztown University turned the tables with a decided 25-15 second-set victory as the Griffins only remained competitive in matching 25-22, third and fourth-set, finals. Kalala recorded a team-high 11 points with 10 kills on a .259 (10K-3E-27TA) hitting percentage and assisted on a pair of blocks. Ramos scored seven kills and two aces, while hustling to 17 assists and 18 digs. Senior middle hitter Cassie Callahan (St. Louis, Mo.), senior outside hitter Reily Byxbee (Madison, Conn.), junior middle hitter Ragen Baldwin (Lancaster, Pa.), and freshman libero Bianca Diaz (Humacao, Puerto Rico) also provided significant contributions to the Griffins' cause. Callahan offered five kills, 14 assists, an ace, eight digs, and two block assists, Byxbee supplied six kills, four assists, an ace, and 12 digs, Baldwin provided six kills and 1.5 blocks. And Diaz delivered an ace and hustled to 17 digs in her Scarlet and Gold debut.
 
Chestnut Hill College shared the load versus Shippensburg University (1-0) as five-kill efforts from Byxbee and sophomore right side Lauren Lipinski (Gilbert, Ariz.) headlined the Scarlet and Gold offense. Ramos supplied three kills, nine assists, and nine digs in another versatile performance. The Griffins' best resistance came in the second set, where they remained within three points until Raiders separated for a until a 19-15 margin.
 
Chestnut Hill College continues play at the Raider Classic tomorrow, Saturday, September 7, with a 10:00 a.m. match versus Slippery Rock University.