READING, Pa. – The Albright Lions women's volleyball team opened the 2021 regular season with a sweep of Gwynedd Mercy and Penn College in the Albright Tri-Match on Saturday at the Bollman Center.
 
Playing their first regular season contests in 674, the Lions rallied to defeat the Griffins in five sets after trailing 2-0 (20-25, 20-25, 25-21, 25-17, 15-9) before defeating the Wildcats in straight-sets (25-10, 25-14, 25-9).
 
Senior Bryana Chambers led the way for the Lions in the opening match against the Griffins as she registered a team-high 10 kills and five blocks, while hitting at a .364 clip. First-year Sophie Hampton matched Chambers in her collegiate debut with 10 kills, six digs, and two aces along with hitting at a .308 clip. Senior Brooke Franklin tallied seven kills and two blocks, while first-year Paola Mejias paced the Lions offense with 40 assists. Mejias added 11 digs, a team-high five aces, and three kills.
 
The Griffins jumped on the Lions early in the first set as they took a 5-1 lead behind taking advantage of three errors. Albright drew within one point of the Griffins at 7-6 following an ace from senior Grace Serafin before the Griffins won six of the next eight points to go up 13-8. Gwynedd Mercy continued with the momentum by winning five-straight points to take an 18-9 lead. However, the Lions stormed back by winning 10 of the next 12 points to make it a 20-19 deficit behind three-straight kills at the end of the run. The Griffins ended the Lions comeback chances in the first set by taking five of the last six points. The Lions started strong in the second set as they went up 3-1 before the Griffins won four of the next five points to take a 5-4 lead. Albright reeled off three-straight points to take a 7-5 advantage, but the Griffins took eight of the next 10 points to go up 13-9. Gwynedd Mercy extended its lead to 18-11 behind four-straight points, and the Lions would get no closer than three points in the rest of the set.
 
The teams went back and forth to start the third set before the Lions broke a 3-3 tie by winning four-straight points to take a 7-3 lead. Gwynedd Mercy responded by taking five of the next six points to tie the set at eight, but the Lions fended off the rally by winning four of the next six points to go back up 12-10. Albright did not relinquish the lead for the remainder of the set as they forced a fourth set with a .195 hitting percentage as a team, the highest of the match. The Griffins worked their way out to a 6-4 lead in the fourth set before the Lions rallied by winning seven of the next eight points to take an 11-7 advantage. Albright extended its lead to 16-11, but the Griffins closed in with wins in four of the next five points to bring the deficit down to 17-15. However, the Lions slammed the door by winning eight of the final 10 points to force the decisive fifth set. Albright dominated early in the fifth set as they went ahead 7-1 behind a pair of aces and three errors from the Griffins. Gwynedd Mercy won five-straight points to make it 7-6, but that would be as close as they would get the rest of the way. Albright took seven of the next nine points to complete the comeback and win the match.
 
Following a break, the Lions returned to the floor to face Penn College to close out the tri-match. Albright won the first seven points of the first set behind three aces from Mejias. The Lions continued to dominate in the first set as they extended their lead to 12-3 Albright would not let its lead drop below eight in the rest of the first set as they cruised to a 25-10 set one victory behind a .235 hitting percentage as a team. The second set started as a back and forth affair as the Wildcats were able to take their first lead of the match at 5-4 following a Lions error. However, the Lions won six of the next seven points to take a 10-6 lead behind two kills and one block from junior Grace Andrefski. Penn College pulled within two points at 11-9, but the Lions pulled away by winning 12 of the next 15 points to take a commanding 23-12 lead. Hampton closed the second set with a kill after a pair of Wildcats points. Albright once again jumped on the Wildcats early in the third set as they went up 8-1. Penn College got within five points at 11-6 before the Lions reeled off 10 of the next 11 points to go up 21-7. Hampton was once again able to close out the set with a kill, and this time it also closed out the match.
 
Andrefski led the Lions against the Wildcats with a team-high six kills on 10 attacks, and Hampton followed with five kills. First-year Carly Bono added four kills and a team-high four aces, and Serafin paced the Lions offense with 16 assists.
 
The Lions will return to action on Wednesday, September 8th as they will host Hood to open MAC Commonwealth play at 7 p.m.