GWYNEDD VALLEY, Pa. — The Pratt Institute women's volleyball team opened Atlantic East Conference play with a straight-set victory Saturday afternoon, sweeping Gwynedd Mercy University, 26-24, 25-12, 25-17, at the GMercyU Griffin Complex.
The victory marked Pratt's (7-8, 1-0 Atlantic East) first win over Gwynedd Mercy (2-17, 0-1 Atlantic East) in five all-time meetings, and secured the program's first conference triumph since 2024 after a winless league campaign in 2025.
Gwynedd Mercy jumped out to a 10-6 lead in the opening set before Zoe Broerman (Cincinnati, Ohio) sparked a 7-0 run at the service line, dealing consecutive aces to put the Cannoneers ahead, 15-11. The Griffins battled back to tie the frame at 17-17 and 20-20 before earning a set point at 24-23. Alison Sontag (Manhasset, N.Y.) kept Pratt alive with a clutch kill from Emma Hwang (Dallas, Texas) to level the score at 24-24, and Jamie Shoemake (La Crescenta, Calif.) hammered down a kill from Hwang on the ensuing rally to seal the 26-24 comeback win.
The Cannoneers seized complete control in the second frame, hitting .300 with 10 kills and only one error. Hwang served Pratt out to a 5-0 lead, and Sontag followed with a six-point service turn to widen the cushion to 11-1. After Gwynedd Mercy trimmed the deficit to 14-9, Colleen Russell (Asbury, N.J.) delivered two kills down the stretch, and Shoemake added another before Sontag finished off the 25-12 rout with an ace.
Pratt maintained its rhythm in the third, using another service run from Broerman to break an 8-8 deadlock with five straight points, including two aces and a kill from Shoemake. The Griffins crept within two at 19-17, but the Cannoneers slammed the door with a match-closing 6-0 run. Kelsy Padilla (Brooklyn, N.Y.) ignited the burst with a kill, Hwang and Sontag teamed up for two blocks, and Broerman served out the final four points — featuring two more aces — to cap the 25-17 sweep.
Shoemake and Padilla paced the balanced attack with eight kills apiece, with Shoemake hitting .286 and Padilla adding eight digs. Russell contributed seven kills, while Sontag notched four kills, four block assists, and an ace. Hwang recorded a double-double, distributing 24 assists with 10 digs, three kills, and three block assists. Broerman anchored the back row and service game with six aces, six digs, and four assists.
Pratt totaled 31 kills, 11 service aces, and six total blocks (12 block assists) while holding the Griffins to 19 kills and a .026 hitting percentage.
Kate Etter, Cameron Hnat, and Carley Leonard each tallied five kills to lead the Griffins, while Macie Ferla dished out 14 assists.
Pratt returns home to continue conference action against Saint Elizabeth University on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 7 p.m. at the Pratt ARC.
