Box Score

The Albright College volleyball team opened up Commonwealth Conference play with a solid showing on the road, ultimately falling 3-1 (25-15, 24-26, 25-23, 25-22) to Elizabethtown.

The Blue Jays have made the Commonwealth playoffs eight of the last nine years, and placed third a year ago. Albright still held its own however, nearly taking a 2-1 lead in the third set.

The Lions hit .128 as a team, but had a percentage of .261 in their game two victory (and .189 in game three).

Senior Christa Mantz had a double-double with 12 kills and 16 digs. Freshman Maddy Greth also achieved the feat with 11 kills and 10 digs, while adding a game-high four service aces.

Also turning in big numbers were Brandy Blimline (10 kills) and Morgan Heath (34 assists, nine digs).

Down 14-9 in game two, the Lions rallied to tie 15-15 on a Jordan Gibson service ace. Albright then went up 18-16 after a Mantz kill and an Etown attack error.

The Lions were on the brink at 24-22, but rallied from game point. Mantz had three kills in a four-point stretch that, along with one Blimline kill, gave the Red and White a 26-24 game.

Albright then went up 19-13 in game three, threatening to take a 2-1 lead overall. Mantz' kill forced an Elizabethtown timeout, but the Blue Jays soon rallied for a crushing 10-0 run to take over momentum.

Albright (0-5) will face Alvernia and Brandywine on Saturday in a tri-match, on the Crusader side of Reading.