ASTON, Pa. --- The Moravian College women's volleyball team split a pair of matches on the opening day of the Knights Invitational at Neumann University as the Greyhounds defeated Widener University, 3-2, to start the tournament before falling to New York University, 3-1, Friday evening.
The Hounds, who are 6-6 on the year, took the first two sets over the Pride, 25-17 and 25-20, before Widener won the next two sets, 25-11 and 25-19. The Greyhounds responded to win the fifth set, 15-11, to take the match. Senior outside hitter Brooke Kusmider, senior middle blocker Erin Tiger and freshman outside hitter Kirah Dreisbach each had 15 kills in the match with Kusmider adding eight digs, Tiger making three blocks and Dreisbach contributing 13 digs and three service aces.
Junior setter Victoria Kauffman paced Moravian's offense with 46 assists to go with six digs while freshman libero Ally Locy and junior defensive specialist Alexis Szaro each having a team-high 15 digs. Sophomore right side hitter Emerson Gieryic had four kills, four digs and two blocks while freshman middle blocker Paige Kowalski made four kills and a team-leading five blocks. Sophomore defensive specialist Jasmine Pavlinsky added five assists.
In the second match, NYU took the first two sets, 25-21 and 25-18, before Moravian posted a 25-19 victory in the third set. The Violets would take the fourth set, 25-18, to clinch the contest. Freshman outside hitter Katie Hudson led the Blue and Grey with 10 kills to go with four digs while Tiger had nine kills, seven digs and a pair of service aces. Kusmider contributed seven kills, five digs and three service aces wile Dreisbach and Kowalski each had four kills with Dreisbach adding 12 digs and two service aces.
Kauffman had another 31 assists with six digs while Szao had 11 digs. Locy contributed nine digs in the match while Pavlinsky had a pair of digs.
Moravian will be back in action in the second day of the Knights Invitational at Neumann on Saturday, September 15 with contests versus Salisbury (Md.) University at 12:00 p.m. and Cabrini University at 2:00 p.m.