BRYN MAWR, Pa. - Bryn Mawr volleyball returned to the friendly confines of the Class of 1958 Gymnasium on Saturday for their 2016 home opener. The Owls welcomed both New Jersey City University and Penn State Brandywine to campus for a tri-match featuring three quality teams from the region. Despite their best efforts, including winning sets in both matches, the Owls were unable to take a match from either side, as NJCU took a 3-2 win and the Nittany Lions won 3-1 in the final contest of the day. Senior Allie Nagelski once again had a tremendous day for the Owls, as she stuffed the stat sheet in multiple categories on the day.

Bryn Mawr (0-3) faced a strong test right out of the gate in the first match of the day as they ran into a solid team in NJCU. The Gothic Knights threw down a .303 hitting percentage in the opening set of the contest, but the Owls weathered that storm and showed great resilience by winning the set anyway. Tied at 14-all midway through the frame, Bryn Mawr jumped ahead on a service error and an ace by Kira Ogoshi. The Gothic Knights would come back with four straight points of their own to retake the lead, but the Owls buckled down from that point on. Sienna Burnett and Sarah Whitten each posted kills, helping Bryn Mawr tie things back up at 20-20. Later, two kills by Camille Baechler put the hosts ahead 23-22, and the Owls were able to close out the set thanks to two straight ball-handling errors by the visitors' setter.

The Gothic Knights (2-1) put together strong second and third sets to get back out in front in the match, taking those frames in 25-18 and 25-16 fashion. Now facing their first deficit of the day in a match, the Owls showed some backbone by buckling down once again in the fourth. Bryn Mawr jumped all over NJCU early in the set, using four attack errors and a kill from Baechler to take a quick 5-1 lead. Later, Sienna Burnett had a great pair of points back-to-back, throwing down a kill and getting a big stuff block on the next play to put the Owls in front 11-5. NJCU tried to rally back into the set, closing to as close as 17-19, but Bryn Mawr won six of the final eight points capped off by a kill from Kira Ogoshi as the Owls were able to force the decisive fifth set.

Once again Bryn Mawr took a quick lead in the frame, with an ace from Sarah Whitten and a kill from Burnett contributing to a slim 5-4 Owls lead. Unfortunately, it would be the final lead the hosts would hold in the match, as NJCU ran off six straight points and closed out the victory by a 15-8 tally.

After another marathon five-set match between the Gothic Knights and Penn State Brandywine (in which the Nittany Lions were finally able to put away NJCU with a 3-2 win), Bryn Mawr and the Blue and White took the court for the final contest of the day. This time, the Owls fell behind early in the match as the hosts fell in both the first and second sets to Brandywine. However, a timely coaching decision from head coach Nicole Reiley helped Bryn Mawr turn things around, as she put Nagelski into the front line and it paid off big.

The Owls got right out in front on Brandywine in the frame with a 9-1 run to open things up. Baechler racked up two kills to pad that total, and then later on another kill from Burnett made it 12-3. Bryn Mawr would hang onto that lead throughout the set, although the Nittany Lions were able to close to 19-22 late in the frame. However, two kills from Nagelski and a final kill by Baechler ended those hopes and gave Bryn Mawr new life in the match. Unfortunately, the Owls were unable to pull out the fourth set. Despite a 10-0 run by the hosts in the middle of the set, Brandywine was able to clinch the match with a 25-22 win in the frame.

Nagelski was all over the place for Bryn Mawr on the day. The senior racked up 39 digs over her two matches, including 16 in the second when she was not even playing as the libero for a good chunk of the match. She also posted eight kills on the day against just three errors, posted six assists, and chipped in four service aces for an incredible all-around day. Camille Baechler led the Owls in kills in both matches, racking up 11 against Brandywine and nine versus the Gothic Knights. Senior captain Caroline Cosby also had a strong day for the Owls, as she totaled 15 kills over the span of both contests.

The Owls will get back in action next week on the road when they travel up the street to Rosemont on Wednesday. Bryn Mawr will look to pick up their first win of the season against the Ravens, an opponent who may be just what the doctor ordered for the Owls. Bryn Mawr is 22-4 all-time against Rosemont. Wednesday's contest is slated to kick off at 7:00 PM.