Thiel 3, Franciscan 0 

Franciscan Starters 
Caitlin O'Malley; Renee Antonelli; Grace Wallace; Emily Nutter; Margaret Butters; Annika Olsen; libero Lauren Betar.

Thiel Starters 
Courtney Grubbs; Raquel McDonald; Kylee Eaton; Jordyn Liedike; Mya Storll; Gianna Militi; libero Abby Triskett

How It Happened 
The Franciscan Women's Volleyball team makes their longest road trip of the year in their first game, as they travel to Thiel. Thiel was coming off a home win against St. Vincent in three sets, and they would would treat Franciscan the same. Many freshman made immediate impacts for the Lady Barons in the loss. 

In the first set, Thiel would commit a service error to give the Barons a 1-0, but then the Tomcats would go on a 4-0 run. Freshman Margaret Butters would end it with her first kill of her career, and the Lady Barons would battle it back to a 5-5 tie. Caitlin O'Malley and Emily Nutter would add a kill apiece on way to Franciscan's largest lead of the set at 13-9. Thiel would be the first to fifteen points though, as a 7-0 run would give them a commanding lead that they would not relinquish. Thiel won 25-20.

Thiel would carry over success in to set two, as they would open up the action with a 5-0 run. The Barons would respond and earn two points of their own, but then a Tomcats 8-2 run would give them a large lead at 13-4. Butters would add a kill, and Emily Nutter would earn an ace, as the Lady Barons tried to chip away at the lead. Renee Antonelli would register her first kill of the season as well, but it was not enough as Thiel would close out 25-10.

Franciscan would come out aggressive in set three as they jumped out to a 4-0 lead. Graysen Kraft and Margaret Butters each added a kill in that run. The Lady Barons would be leading 5-2 before the Tomcats went on their largest run of the night with an 11-0 run. Antonelli would add three kills this set, but the Lady Barons would not be able to recover enough, as the Tomcats win 25-18.

Inside the Numbers 
- Freshman Margaret Butters led the Lady Barons with six kills.
-Lauren Betar had a game high 20 digs.
-Emily Nutter racked up 13 assists
-Thiel's Kylee Eatons registered a double double with 10 kills and 10 digs.
-Annika Olsen and Graysen Kraft each recorded two kills in their college debuts

Who's Next? 
Franciscan will return home for their home opener of the 2020-21 season with a doubleheader on Friday against Waynesburg. The Lady Barons are 9-1 all-time against the Yellow Jackets, and they have won the last eight meetings. Last season, the two teams played in Steubenville, and the Lady Barons won 3-1. Renee Antonelli led the way with 14 kills and scoring 18 points. Lauren Betar had a very strong defensive game with a team high 18 digs. 

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