KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Philadelphia University women's volleyball team opened this weekend's Kutztown Classic with a tight 3-0 loss (31-29, 25-23, 25-20) to Southern New Hampshire University Friday afternoon in Keystone Arena.

The Rams (1-1) got off to a slow start, allowing the Penmen (4-3) to take an early 5-0 lead. After head coach Tim Moyer called timeout, Philadelphia rattled off eight of the next 11 points to tie the set at eight on a Courtney Wensel (Bechtsville, Pa./Berks Catholic) service ace. Southern New Hampshire, led by three Carolyn Scacchi kills, regained controlled of the set with seven consecutive points. Once again, the Rams fought their way back, going on a 13-5 surge to take their first lead of the set 24-23 on a Penmen error. It would be the first of four set points Philadelphia would have. Then, on its second set point, Southern New Hampshire won the set on a Scacchi kill.

Despite outhitting Southern New Hampshire .219 to .206, Philadelphia never led in the second set. Facing a 17-9 deficit, the Rams went on a 13-5 run to tie the set at 22. Five different Rams had a kill during the surge. With the set knotted at 23, the Penmen scored the final two points of the set to take a 2-0 lead.

Philadelphia scored the first three points of the final set to take its largest lead of the afternoon. After briefly giving up the lead, the Rams got back in front by two after a Chelsea Hughes (Wading River, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading River) kill and a Penmen made the score 10-8. Southern New Hampshire took advantage of three straight Philadelphia errors to claim an 11-10 lead. The Penmen used a 6-1 run to move ahead 21-16 and take control of the final set.

Hughes led Philadelphia with 12 kills on 22 attempts and two blocks assists. Wensel had a solid match with 10 kills, nine digs, and three service aces. Libero Michele Chai (Sinking Spring, Pa./Berks Catholic) racked up 13 digs.

Marisa Coronis paced Southern New Hampshire with 10 kills and a .400 hitting percentage.

Philadelphia has two matches coming up on Saturday, Sept. 12. The Rams take on NYIT at 11:30 a.m. and then face host Kutztown at 4:30 p.m.