Box Score Dunmore, PA. – The University of Valley Forge Women's Volleyball team opened up their season with a 3-1 (25-20, 22-25, 25-8, 25-20) victory over Penn State Scranton on Friday evening.

The first set was started by a kill from Scranton, but the Patriots quickly capitalized on a Lions service and ball handling error. A trio of kills from sophomore Mariah Straker, junior Hannah Hawryluk, and freshman Jasmine Vargas allowed a 6-2 Valley Forge advantage. From here, Valley Forge maintained steady possession of the lead, making the score 20-14 before Scranton created a run, tying up the score 20-20. The Patriots broke the tie by a set of kills from Hawryluk and senior Kaitlyn Hess, advancing the Patriots 22-20. Valley Forge went on to win the first set 25-20 after a few errors from the Lions.

With the first set under their belt, the Patriots and Lions battled point-for-point in the second set. Although the team combined for 8 total kills, they fell short with a score of 22-25 due to their 11 service errors.

Following their loss in the second set, Valley Forge opened the third set with a 9-0 run with 5 kills, 3 aces, and a Lions receiving error. The Patriots wouldn't look back as they maintained the lead through the rest of the set. Valley Forge utilized a couple of errors on the Lions and a pair of aces by Hess, taking the set 25-8.      

In similar fashion to the first set, Valley Forge and Scranton traded points for the beginning of the match. The Patriots generated pressure on the Lions to commit a handful of errors to pull ahead 16-10. Valley Forge would continue to propel on a few aces from Mariah Straker and Hannah Hawryluk as well as two kills from Kaitlyn Hess. The Lions attempted to make a comeback on a couple of Patriot faults and two kills, but ended the set on a ball handling error for a score of 25-20 in favor of Valley Forge.

"We stayed true to Patriot volleyball and played hard," said head coach Jessica Rink. "The ladies set the tone and energy that helped them take off the rest of the game."  

Overall, the Patriots hit. 237 as a team with a total of 31 kills and 28 aces.