PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania volleyball team earned their first Ivy League victory of the season, ending a four-match losing streak by defeating Brown 3-0 on Friday night.
 
The Quakers and Bears provided some immediate fireworks, in what was a brilliant back-and forth affair. After tying the game at 7-7, the Quakers went on an 11-6 run, riding three kills by Autumn Leak. Brown pushed back into the set, tying the match again at 22-22 and from there the two teams traded points, until Penn pulled out a 29-27 first set victory. Leak finished the set the way she started, recording yet another kill.
 
The positive momentum continued for the Quakers, who a built a 7-0 lead to open the second set and never looked back, winning 25-18. The Bears were kept at arms-length, managing to get as close as a two-point deficit, but never closer. As a team, the Quakers shined on offense, recording 49 kills and .320 hitting percentage in the match.
 
The third set saw more of the same from the Quakers, who clamped down after some early resistance from the Bears. Brown was able to cut the deficit back to three at 21-18, but the Quakers stamped it out, thanks to strong play by Caroline Leng, who notched four of her eight kills in the third set and factored in on the final two points, with a kill and block assist to win the set 25-20.
 
The trifecta of Leak, Parker Jones and Margaret Planek notched 35 kills, with Leak leading the way with a career-high 15. Kacie Burton continued her strong play since returning from injury, tallying her fourth straight match with 30 or more assists, recording 39 in the win.
 
Penn continues the weekend series on Saturday as they welcome in the defending Ivy League champion Yale Bulldogs to The Palestra in their first matchup of the year at 5 p.m.