The University of Pennsylvania women’s volleyball team lost a close match to Brown University on Saturday night at The Palestra, despite winning the first two sets. Brown came back to win the last three sets, securing a 3-2 victory with set scores of 18-25, 21-25, 25-22, 25-21, and 15-10.
With this result, Penn’s record fell to 6-7 overall and 0-3 in Ivy League play. Brown improved to 7-5 overall and now stands at 2-1 in league matches.
Penn recorded more kills than Brown (67 to 57), scored more points (83.0 to 72.0), and had a higher hitting percentage (.257 compared to .241). Five Penn players reached double figures in kills: Zada Sanger (15), Ellie Siskin (13), Jenna Garner (12), Haley Kerstetter (12), and Adell Murray (11).
For Sanger, this was her ninth consecutive match with at least ten kills. She also contributed 13 digs for her first double-double of the season. Garner finished with nine digs, one short of her fifth double-double this year. Kerstetter achieved a .667 hitting percentage with no errors on her attacks.
Murray and Siskin each recorded three block assists; Kerstetter and Jenniya Lane had two apiece. Emery Moore led with 32 assists and added 17 digs; Anna Shohfi provided another 22 assists.
Addison Pollock led defensively with 21 digs. From the service line, Siskin had five aces while Kerstetter had three and Pollock two.
In the opening set, Penn took an early lead that held throughout, highlighted by strong serving from Siskin who delivered four aces during a seven-point run for Penn. In the second set, after several ties, Penn pulled ahead behind kills from Sanger and Siskin as well as an ace from Pollock.
Brown rallied in the third set after overcoming an early deficit; key plays down the stretch allowed them to take the set. In the fourth set, Penn led by five before Brown scored six straight points to go ahead late in the frame and ultimately evened up the match score.
In the decisive fifth set, Brown established control after responding quickly to an initial point from Penn. Despite efforts from Siskin and Murray—both hitting .667—Brown closed out the match.
Penn will travel next weekend for Ivy League matches against Harvard on Friday at 7 p.m., followed by Dartmouth on Saturday at 5 p.m.
For updates on Penn volleyball, fans can follow @PennVolleyball on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram or visit their website at PennAthletics.com.
