Marauders drop first match of kickoff tournament to Jefferson

Friday, August 28

West Chester, PA

1:00 PM

Millersville University

0-2,0-0PSAC

Jefferson

1-0,0-0CACC

Team	1	2	3	Final F
Jefferson	25	25	25	3
Millersville	15	16	19	0

Marauders drop first match of kickoff tournament to Jefferson

8/28/2026 2:31:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Bailey Smith, Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant

WEST CHESTER, Pa. - After opening their season on the road yesterday against Goldey-Beacom, the Millersville University women's volleyball team began competition in the PSAC East Kick-Off Tournament, hosted by West Chester University. In their first match of the tournament, the Marauders fell to Jefferson University in a three-set sweep. The Rams stayed in control of the match, claiming all three sets by scores of 25-15, 25-16, and 25-19.

Nadia Sawyer, Hailey Lazur, and Sam White led the Marauders offensively, combining for 12 kills, while Becca Hartranft and Julia Chunta anchored the back line with 18 combined digs.

Millersville opened the match with a quick 2-0 run, sparked by newcomer Charlee Russick and a service ace from Chunta. The Rams responded with a 6-0 run, taking advantage of several Marauder errors to gain an early lead. Addy Van Oosten, Sawyer, and White helped keep Millersville within reach, but Jefferson continued to pull away and took the opening set, 25-15.

The Rams stayed on the attack, building another large lead over the Marauders in the second set. Lazur and Sawyer helped spark a Millersville comeback, while several Jefferson errors brought the Marauders within seven points. However, Millersville continued to struggle defensively as the Rams maintained control and took the second set, 25-16.

The Marauders' defense finally showed through early in the third set as Marin Esch, Alex Nava and Lazur held strong at the net, using a pair of blocks to help Millersville take a 4-0 lead. Jefferson responded with a strong offensive push, trading points with the Marauders until the set was tied at nine. The Rams pulled ahead again, but White and Nava answered with a big block to keep Millersville within two points. Sidonia Cecco entered late in the set and helped slow Jefferson's offense, but the Marauders could not complete the comeback as the Rams took the third set, 25-19, and the opening match of the tournament.

"We've opened up with two solid teams and we've struggled to generate an offense," said head coach Brian Smith. "We have only been a team for two weeks, and with many new players and new setters, it's going to take time to build the kind of rhythm and connectivity it takes to create a better offensive outcome. We have to keep putting in the time and the work. We will get there. We have to stay the course for tomorrow's matches and keep working on our things we need to do to keep improving."

The Marauders will look to bounce back in the tournament tomorrow, Aug. 29, when they face Caldwell at 1 p.m. and West Virginia at 3 p.m.