Rindge, NH - With just three games remaining in the regular season, the Adelphi University volleyball team earned a four-set victory over Franklin Pierce University on Saturday afternoon at The Fieldhouse, bouncing back from a second-set setback to win by scores of 25-21, 18-25, 25-18 and 25-13. The Panthers improved to 18-9 overall and 6-2 in Northeast-10 Conference play.
Series History:
- Saturday's contest marked the 21st meeting all-time between Adelphi and Franklin Pierce. The Cats maintain a 16-5 advantage over the Ravens, dating back to the 2006 season.
- The four-set result marks the first time that Franklin Pierce took a set from the Brown and Gold since the 2021 season. The previous five matchups were all decided in three sets, with Adelphi on the winning end.
Highlights:
- Madeleine Chaapel led Adelphi with 13 kills and added two block assists.
- Morgan Meyer finished with 11 kills on 26 attempts, hitting .269.
- Mackenzie Casey contributed seven kills on 17 attempts with a .353 hitting percentage, along with five total blocks.
- Ada Isik led all players with 21 digs and added five assists and a service ace.
- Ana Carolina Westerich recorded 19 assists, while Isabella Assaley added 17 assists and contributed to Adelphi's 11 total team blocks.
How It Happened
- Adelphi overcame an early deficit in the opening set after Franklin Pierce built a 10-5 advantage. The Panthers gradually worked their way back into the match, using kills from Melana Bigelow and Maya Meyers to help close the gap. The teams continued to trade points through the middle of the set, reaching a 21-21 tie before Adelphi found its rhythm at the net. Casey and Bigelow helped push the Panthers in front, and Chaapel delivered the final kill to secure a 25-21 opening-set win.
- Franklin Pierce responded in the second set, jumping out to an early lead and capitalizing on Adelphi attack errors to build a sizable advantage. The Panthers faced a 13-3 deficit before beginning to chip away at the margin. Meyer came through with several kills, while Bigelow, Casey and Chaapel added timely attacks as Adelphi put together a late rally. The Panthers pulled within five points at 23-18, but Franklin Pierce closed out the set, 25-18, to even the match.
- The Panthers regained control in the third set, with Chaapel, Bigelow and Meyer contributing kills as Adelphi moved in front. Franklin Pierce managed to draw even at 8-8, but Adelphi answered with a strong stretch on both sides of the net. Casey and Chaapel helped disrupt the Griffins' attack, while the Panthers continued to find openings offensively. Adelphi built a comfortable lead late in the frame, and Meyer helped finish the set with a kill to give the Panthers a 25-18 victory and a 2-1 match advantage.
- Adelphi carried that momentum into the fourth set, working through an early back-and-forth battle before breaking away from a 7-7 tie. The Panthers found success from the service line and at the net, with Katie Waterman delivering consecutive service aces as Adelphi extended its lead. Isik added an ace of her own, while Chaapel and Casey helped keep the offense rolling. The Panthers continued to pressure Franklin Pierce into errors and pulled away late, with Bigelow recording the final kill to seal the 25-13 set win and the match.
Up Next:
- The Cats remain on the road for their penultimate matchup against American International College on Tuesday, Nov. 3. This marks the second meeting this season between the two teams, as they met opening weekend. There, the Yellow Jackets secured a three-set sweep inside the Center for Recreation and Sports.
